What To Do If You Have Prediabetes

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFbv72WwvPtAk33K2YLgku_RXrxuw1yxos69KTH0tIyCX4-jYbF8kg-_ryRm733ony4KIqQXwh4N1SO3CM-95N4WorLwNxX6uO4s59L44_LSXKlCyIfx3nI_5iafRQXodcpQxYzE53V0/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFbv72WwvPtAk33K2YLgku_RXrxuw1yxos69KTH0tIyCX4-jYbF8kg-_ryRm733ony4KIqQXwh4N1SO3CM-95N4WorLwNxX6uO4s59L44_LSXKlCyIfx3nI_5iafRQXodcpQxYzE53V0/s1600/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. What is Prediabetes?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are high than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may progress to type 2 diabetes unless you take steps to prevent it. Losing weight, appropriate diet and regular physical activity can help. It is a common misunderstanding that prediabetes is not a health risk until it turns into type 2 diabetes. But in reality, the difference between the two is merely on a reference scale. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any amount of increased blood sugar levels is harmful for the body, putting prediabetics at modest increase in the risk for cardiovascular disease and other health issues.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Watch out for these signs</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Prediabetes occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and may have some of the problems associated with diabetes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A darkened area of skin, a condition called as acanthosis nigricans is one of the few signs suggesting you are at risk for diabetes. This can commonly occur on neck, armpits, elbows, knees and knuckles.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Usually, people having prediabetes do not show any signs or symptoms. In fact, millions of people around the globe suffer from prediabetes and still don't know about it because the symptoms gradually develop. Because of this, the people fail to recognize the symptoms. Some people may have no symptoms at all.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Consultation with your doctor is important if you notice:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Increase in thirst</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Frequent urination</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Blurred vision</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Fatigue</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Risk Factors for Pre-diabetics</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>If you are overweight and more than 45 years old, you should have yourself checked for prediabetes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Other risk factors for prediabetes include</u>:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><ul><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">High blood pressure levels</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Low HDL cholesterol and high triglyceride levels</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A family history of diabetes</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Physical inactivity</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A history of gestational diabetes</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Impaired glucose levels and/or metabolic syndrome</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cardiovascular disease</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Abnormal blood sugar levels in a prior blood sugar test</i></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Pre-diabetic symptoms serve as an early warning. Preventive measures such as weight loss and regular exercise need to be implemented in order to prevent diabetes and its associated complications.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Both pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes are similar in that both are known for an abnormal build-up of glucose in the bloodstream. However, fasting blood glucose value of more than 126 mg/dL on two separate tests and any value of 200 mg/dL or more on oral glucose tolerance test suggest diabetes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Insulin Resistance</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Type 2 diabetes is known for its "Insulin resistance." Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancrease, and blood glucose is the source of enery for body cells. Carbohydrates in our food are broken down into glucose by our body cells.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Hence, glucose levels in blood increase after meals. In response, pancrease produces more insulin to keep up with this increased demand. In people with insulin resistance, the body cells fail to respond to insulin. As blood glucose levels remain high, the beta cells in pancrease produce more and more insulin. These overworked beta cells eventually fail to keep up with the constant need for insulin, leading to diabetes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Good Nutrition is Very Important</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Every individual has different nutritional needs. Diet is the key to maintaining wellness when you are newly diagnosed with prediabtes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Eat your meals strictly on time every day.</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Proper portion size for each meal is important.</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Never skip meals.</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Controlling calories is important is prediabetes, choose whole grain foods.</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy and meals.</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>If you are non vegetarian eat fish twice a week.</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Concentrate on baked, boiled, broiled or grilled food.</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Don't consume fried foods.</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Drink plenty of water or sugar-free beverages.</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Try tomato-based soups with vegetables.</i></span></li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Get Active - It is very important</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A good control of blood glucose and weight is very important and this cannot be established without keeping yourself active. Regular physical activity is very important. Your physical activity may include merely moving around more during the daytime, spending less time in driving, using stairs more often, doing gardening, walking the dog, or anything which increases caloric use.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Regular phycical activity has the following benefits in prediabetes</u>:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><ul><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lowers blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Improves circulation</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Helps in weight loss and prevents weight gain</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Provides strength to the heart, muscles, and bones</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Improves strength, flexibility and endurance</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Improves brain function and mood</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Helps in lowering stress</i></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Good Healthcare Team</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Good support from your healthcare team is very important. Your health care team will include your diabetes doctor, your family doctor, dietician, the nurse, and other speciality doctors, if needed, including you.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Remember the following things when you meet your healthcare team</u>:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><ul><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never hesitate to ask any questions about your prediabetes care to your doctor.</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do not forget to report any changes in your health to your doctor.</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always ask for a healthy meals plan.</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always ask for more ways to be active.</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ask how and when to check your blood sugar levels.</i></li><li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Discuss how your current prediabetes plan is working for you.</i></li></ul></div></div>

What To Do If You Have Prediabetes

1. What is Prediabetes? Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are high than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of...

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