Having prediabetes means having higher-than-normal blood sugar and an increased risk for developing bang out 2 diabetes.
Here, ways to recognize and deal with this condition.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,86 million Americans now have prediabetes.
Photo: Getty Images / MirageC
That’s 1 in 3 adults.
Those staggering statistics might have you asking some questions: Do I already have prediabetes?
How do I know if I’m at risk?
Are there warning signs or indications that can tell you your blood sugar is higher than it should be?
Should you start checking your own blood sugar levels alongside your relative?
Fortunately, with healthy diet and lifestyle changes, diabetes can be delayed and complications can be prevented.
Plus, not all individuals who develop prediabetes will proceed to develop full-blown diabetes.
What Is Prediabetes?
Blood sugar levels increase when you consume food, mainly carbohydrates.
As time progresses and no lifestyle changes are made, insulin resistance worsens.
Prediabetes Symptoms
Prediabetes is a “silent” disease.
It usually has no symptoms.
You might feel normal while the disease is progressing, and this can go on for several years.
Annual physicals can help you spot unusually high blood sugar levels.
Most health care providers check blood glucose numbers at a regular appointment.
If your numbers show an unusual pattern, your doctor may request blood tests to check for prediabetes.
But remember, healthy and lasting weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds per week.
Move More
Exercise regularly.
Thirty minutes of physical activity five times a week can lower your risk.
Pick an activitydancing, swimming, runningthat you enjoy, then get moving.
And remember that any and all movement counts.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator and stand up from your desk each hour.
These little bits of movement can add up over the course of the day.
