The surprising truth about prediabetes
Prediabetes is real and common. But most importantly, it’s reversible. You can prevent or delay prediabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes with simple, proven lifestyle changes.
Amazing but true: approximately 1 out of 3 adults have prediabetes. What’s more, 90% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have it. Could this be you? Read on to find out the facts and what you can do to stay healthy.
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes describes a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes. Don’t let the “pre” fool you, prediabetes is a serious health condition and it is the precursor to Type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
The good news is studies have shown that a few lifestyle changes, such as adopting a healthier diet, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight can reverse pre-diabetes, as well as reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes is hard to detect
You can have prediabetes for years but have no clear symptoms, so it often goes undetected until serious health problems show up. Hence, it’s important to talk to your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested if you have any of the risk factors for prediabetes, which include:
- Being overweight – have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23 or higher
- Being 40 years or older
- Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
- Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol level
- Being physically active less than 3 times a week
- Ever having gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or giving birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds
Stop And Reverse Prediabetes
Think of prediabetes as a fork in the road: Ignore it, and your risk for type 2 diabetes goes up. Lose a modest amount of weight and get regular physical activity, and your risk goes down. Modest weight loss means 5% to 7% of body weight, just 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person. Regular physical activity means getting at least 150 minutes a week of brisk walking or similar activity. That’s just 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
Here are some lifestyle changes needed to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes:
- Work with a trained coach to make lasting lifestyle changes.
- Discover how to eat healthily and add more physical activity into their day.
- Find out how to manage stress, stay motivated, and solve problems that can slow progress.
- Groceries or food supplement and meal plans that are diabetic friendly
- Know your BMI and lose weight is necessary
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