Understanding, reversing, and preventing Pre diabetes
What is pre diabetes?
Pre diabetes basically means you have too much sugar in your blood, but not enough to classify as diabetes. This number is somewhat arbitrary, and as silly as it sounds, it’s possible to have pre diabetes or diabetes in the USA but not in Canada. These countries use a different cut off point.
They also use different units to measure your blood sugar. We’ll use the American standard here. If your FBS (fasting blood sugar) levels are between 100 and 125 mg/dl (5.6 and 6.9 mmol/L) you are considered to have prediabetes. Anything over that is considered full blown diabetes. This means that your body isn’t responding to insulin as well as it should. Unchecked, this can easily lead to diabetes. A pre diabetic FBS reading is also called “Impaired fasting glucose” (IFG). We’ll discuss the other test in the next section.
Although it doesn’t sound like a big deal, it is. Over time, this high fasting blood sugar level can cause major health problems including damaging the heart and circulatory system. Diabetes can dramatically decrease a person’s life span.
How do I know if I have Pre diabetes?
There are two simple tests you can take to see if you have pre diabetes.
Test one:
Fasting blood sugar test. Here you don’t eat for at least 8 hours. Then you go to the doctor and give them a sample of your blood. They test to see the concentration of sugar. Since you haven’t eaten in a while, this measure is called your FBS (fasting blood sugar). The pre diabetic range is 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6-6.9 mmol/L)
Test 2:
Oral glucose tolerance test. Here you are asked to drink a sweet drink containing a lot of glucose. Then you wait 2 hours and give your blood. If your glucose level here is between 140 and 199 mg/dL (7.8-11.1 mmol/L) you have pre diabetes.
Both tests are generally considered to be equally good at determining pre diabetes.
Who is typically at risk for pre diabetes?
Here are typically the high risk groups for pre diabetes:
- People with a family history of type 2 diabetes.
- Women who had gestational diabetes or have had a baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
- Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome.
- African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, and Pacific Islanders, minority groups that are disproportionately affected by diabetes.
- People who are overweight or obese, especially in the mid section.
- People with high cholesterol, high triglycerides, low HDL/LDL ratio.
- People who are inactive.
- Older people. The ability to utilize insulin well gets worse as we age.
Should I get tested for pre diabetes?
Yes. Adults should be getting blood work done at least every couple of years anyway. Your fasting blood sugar (FBS) is one of the standard readings. The next time you get your blood work done, pay attention to that number and monitor it over your life. If it keeps creeping up, then you need to be extra careful. Don’t wait until a doctor tells you that you have pre diabetes or diabetes. Take matters into your own hands.
What should I do if I have pre diabetes?
You should get on an exercise program, reduce stress, lose weight (particularly body fat) and control your blood sugar through dietary changes.
What diet should I be on to prevent or control pre diabetes?
Diets to prevent diabetes or pre diabetes are the same. Read this article Diabetes prevention diet
Is there any oral medication I can take for pre diabetes if diet and exercise alone don’t work?
Yes. Oral medication for preventing diabetes
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