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Prediabetes
from Ellen Medved
I'm looking forward to attending my annual Diabetes Educator Conference in Atlanta next week. Over 5000 diabetes educators and companies that have diabetes products will be discussing the latest trends in diabetes care.
Prediabetes is one topic area that is on the forefront of everyone that works in diabetes education. Why? An estimated 57 million Americans have prediabetes....that's 1 in 4 adults. Most people are unaware that they have it and still many healthcare professionals don't discuss it enough. The cause is not clear, but people who are overweight, inactive, have a family history of diabetes, and have had gestational diabetes are more likely to have prediabetes. What we do know is that high blood sugars can lead to damage of large and small vessels and the earlier we know this then we can start preventing further damage.
Type 2 Diabetes is when the pancreas can't produce enough insulin and our body's tissues can't use insulin effectively. Insulin helps regulate our blood sugar and helps our cell use glucose for energy. Around 21 million people in the US have diabetes.
Ahh! A touch of sugar or I'm borderline diabetic. These are things I used to hear from patients, when actually they had prediabetes or were already Type 2.
How to detect prediabetes?
A fasting blood sugar test will tell: If your level is between 100 and 125 milligrams/deciliter that you have prediabetes.
Prediabetes can be silent, but the warning signs of diabetes can happen including:
- Tired
- Thirsty
- Hungry
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
Your risk for prediabetes increases if you have high blood pressure, low HDL (good cholesterol) or high triglycerides.
Treatment and reversing prediabetes is lifestyle changes. The same treatments are used for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
- Whole grains-increase your fiber intake
- Lean cuts of meat and smaller portions
- Olive oil or canola oil
- Drink water, diet sodas and unsweet tea.
- Watch fats-try skim milk, nonfat yogurt and lowfat cheese
- Eat colorful veggies and fruits every day, especially the crunch veggies (broccoli, carrots, peppers, leafy greens)
- Consistent carbohydrates with every meal.
- Reducing your weight by 5-7% and adding physical activity:walking, swimming, biking, plus 2-3 weight training workouts per week.
Does this work?
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) showed in a large study that people who did 30 minutes of physical activity daily and lost 5-7% of their body weight cut their risk of getting diabetes by 58%.
Need more information?
Speak with you physician, contact a diabetes educator:
www.diabeteseducator.org/DiabetesEducation/Find.html
American Diabetes Association
www.diabetes.org
Dlife
www.dlife.com/
Read
Beating Diabetes by David M. Nathan, M.D. and Linda Delehanty
Diabetes for Dummies, by Alan L. Rubin, M.D.
Take action now to prevent diabetes and reverse prediabetes for long term health benefits!
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