Are You Pre-Diabetic 4 Changes to Make Right Now

A prediabetes diagnosis means that you have a blood sugar level that is higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diagnostic for diabetes. Without treatment and lifestyle adjustments, prediabetes can lead to such maladies as type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, further complications include high blood pressure, kidney disease, blindness, high cholesterol, and amputations.

Eat Healthy Foods

Aim for meals that combine a mixture of low-fat protein, whole grains, and vegetables. Limit starchy carbs, serving sizes, and sugar. Try for a preference of fiber-rich foods, which help you to feel full without eating too much. A registered dietician or a diabetes educator can assist you in creating a meal plan that respects your food preferences while reflecting foods that are good for your blood glucose level.

Get Exercise

Growing more active is one of the most ideal actions you can take to make diabetes less of a likelihood. Physical activity is essential when it comes to treatment plans for prediabetes. It decreases body fat and lowers blood glucose levels. Ideally, try exercising 30 minutes a day for five days each week. Check with your doctor about any exercise plans you form and ask if any limitations might make alterations to your plans necessary.

Drop Excess Weight

If you happen to be overweight and prediabetic, you may not need to lose as much weight as you might think to have an impact. In one study, people with prediabetes who lost 5-7% of their total body weight lowered their chances of getting type 2 diabetes by an impressive 58%. The combination of eating better and getting more exercise is an ideal way to both lose weight and then maintain the healthy new weight.

Get Eye Exams

High blood sugar can lead to a variety of visual problems such as blurry vision, glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathy. Diabetes is, in fact, the primary reason for blindness in adults whose ages range from 20 to 74 years old. The lens of the eye can swell, leading to blurry vision. People with diabetes also get cataracts, or cloudy spots on the lens, earlier in their lives, and they worsen more rapidly resulting in eventual cataract surgery and the need for additional medication like cataract surgery steroids.

Prediabetes is a red flag that you need to make lifestyle alterations. Eat better, keep an eye on your vision, get moving, and drop excess pounds, and you can eliminate your risk of type 2 diabetes so long as you keep up the newer, healthier lifestyle.