Have you recently been diagnosed with prediabetes? Or maybe you are worried that you might have it, but you haven’t been formally diagnosed just yet. If you think you may have prediabetes, head over to the CDC website to take their quiz to find out the answer.
Otherwise, keep reading to learn more about prediabetes, what causes it, and how it can be reversed.
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What is Prediabetes?
Before we explain prediabetes, let’s take a moment to define type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes: In this form of diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t make insulin causing the individual to have chronically high blood sugar. This type of diabetes usually presents itself in children or teens but can also affect adults as well.
Type 2 Diabetes: In this form of diabetes, your pancreas makes insulin, but your cells have become resistant to it, leaving it in the bloodstream and causing the blood sugar levels to rise. This type of diabetes usually shows symptoms after the age of 45 but can appear at any time during your lifetime.
Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Once you have it, you will likely have it for the rest of your life.
Prediabetes is a condition where your blood sugar has begun to be high but isn’t high enough to be considered diabetes just yet. If you are diagnosed with prediabetes and do nothing to change your life, it will eventually progress into type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes Symptoms
Below are the symptoms of prediabetes that you should be on the lookout for:
You are suddenly thirsty all the time
You need to urinate more than normal
You are having vision problems (specifically blurriness)
You are tired
Weight gain (usually sudden)
Darkened areas of skin
High blood pressure
If you are experiencing the above symptoms when you are over the age of 45 as well as overweight, then both of these increase your risk for developing prediabetes. You should see a doctor and get tested immediately.
What Causes Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is almost solely caused by your diet as well as a lack of exercise. When you eat a large number of processed foods and drink sugary beverages, this can cause your cells to be resistant to insulin.
As a result, your pancreas will begin to pump out more insulin. This is the prediabetes stage. At this point, your pancreas is still able to operate at higher levels, which is why you don’t have full diabetes just yet. But after a continued period of prediabetes, your pancreas will begin to tire, and this is when your symptoms will increase, and you may be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
How to Reverse Prediabetes
The good news is, being diagnosed with prediabetes isn’t a death sentence–yet. Once you get the diagnosis, you need to immediately begin to work to reverse your prediabetes. This can be done using the following methods:
Eating a prediabetes diet (typically one which is plant-based and low in processed sugars and junk food)
Exercising more
Changing your sedentary lifestyle to a more active one.
As you can see, there isn’t that much you need to change. And doing so can lower your chances of getting diabetes both now and in the future if you keep it up!
We recommend starting with a healthy diet since this will directly influence your insulin levels. You will want to remove all processed products, red meat, alcohol, and sugary beverages from your diet. You should also lower your calorie intake each day (removing the above items should help with this!
Once you get that far, it can help to have a health coach look over your diet and create a meal plan for you. If you are looking for help designing a prediabetic meal plan, reach out to us at RxHealthyHabits today! Even if you don’t want a full diet plan, check out our recipes like ratatouille which is a vegetable-based healthy dish you can easily make at home.
It can be difficult to change your life to a more active one when you are overweight. We recommend that you start with swimming to lose weight, as this is a low-impact exercise method that will keep the pressure off your joints as you drop the pounds!
How Long Does it Take to Reverse Prediabetes?
The length of time it will take you to reverse your prediabetes will vary, depending on your body. Some people are able to reverse it in a few weeks, while others find it takes them a few months or even a year.
Luckily, once you have the prediabetes diagnosis, you have about 2-6 years before diabetes develops. This means if you start changing your life right from the moment you get your diagnosis, you can truly avoid type 2 diabetes!
Final Thoughts on Prediabetes
Overall, it can be scary when you have been diagnosed with prediabetes. But remember, this isn’t the end just yet! If you transform your lifestyle to eat healthier and exercise regularly, before you know it, your fears of diabetes will be something of the past. So start working to change your life today before it is too late!
Prediabetes FAQ:
What Are the Signs of Being Prediabetic?
The signs of prediabetes include increased thirst and urination, increased hunger, fatigue, and frequent infections. You may also notice blurred vision or numbness in your hands or feet. If you have 2 or more of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor right away.
Can Prediabetes Go Away?
Prediabetes is reversible when you change your lifestyle. You can do this by eating a prediabetic diet and exercising regularly.
What Should I Do if I Am Prediabetic?
If you are pre-diabetic, you should change your diet to one filled with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. You should also increase the physical activity in your life and work to lose weight.
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