Prediabetes Facts Diabetes Support Site Website http://diabetessupportsite.com/
Prediabetes Facts
Diabetes Support Site Website
http://diabetessupportsite.com/
What is Prediabetes?Prediabetes is when
blood glucose levels arehigher than normal but not
high enough for adiagnosis of diabetes.Prediabetes means a
person is at increased riskfor developing type 2diabetes, as well as forheart disease and stroke.
Many people withprediabetes develop type2 diabetes within 10
years.
However, modest weightloss and moderate
physical activity can helppeople with prediabetesdelay or prevent type 2
diabetes.
Current Facts About PrediabetesPre-diabetes is a
condition that raisesthe risk of developingtype 2 diabetes, heartdisease, stroke, and
eye disease.
People with pre-diabetes have
impaired fastingglucose (IFG),
impaired glucosetolerance (IGT), orboth—conditions
where blood glucoselevels are higher than
normal but not highenough to be
classified as diabetes.
People with prediabetesare 515 times more likelyto develop type 2 diabetes
than are people withnormal glucose values.
Progression to diabetesamong those with pre
diabetes is not inevitable.Studies show that peoplewith prediabetes wholose at least 7% of theirbody weight and engagein moderate physicalactivity at least 150
minutes per week canprevent or delay diabetesand even return theirblood glucose levels to
normal.
Clinical research showsintensive lifestyle
interventions are the mosteffective way to prevent ordelay type 2 diabetes.
It is thought thatapproximately one of
every three persons bornin 2000 will developdiabetes in his or her
lifetime. The lifetime riskof developing diabetes iseven greater for ethnicminorities: two of everyfive African Americans
and Hispanics, and one oftwo Hispanic females, willdevelop the disease.
How are diabetes and prediabetes diagnosed?
Blood tests are used to diagnosis
diabetes and prediabetes because
early in the disease type 2 diabetes
may have no symptoms. All
diabetes blood tests involve
drawing blood at a health care
provider’s office or commercial
facility and sending the sample to a
lab for analysis.
Lab analysis of blood is needed to
ensure test results are accurate.
Glucose measuring devices used
in a health care provider’s office,
such as fingerstick devices, are
not accurate enough for diagnosis
but may be used as a quick
indicator of high blood glucose.
Testing enables health care
providers to find and treat diabetes
before complications occur and to
find and treat prediabetes, which
can delay or prevent type 2
diabetes from developing.
How are diabetes and prediabetes diagnosed?Any one of the following tests
can be used for diagnosis:
an A1C test, also called the
hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, or
glycohemoglobin test
a fasting plasma glucose
(FPG) test
an oral glucose tolerance test
(OGTT)
Another blood test, the
random plasma glucose
(RPG) test, is sometimes
used to diagnose diabetes
during a regular health
checkup.
If the RPG measures 200
micrograms per deciliter or
above, and the individual also
shows symptoms of diabetes,
then a health care provider
may diagnose diabetes.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Symptoms of diabetes include
increased urination
increased thirst
unexplained weight loss
Other symptoms can include fatigue, blurred vision,
increased hunger, and sores that do not heal.
Are diabetes blood test results always accurate?All laboratory test results can
vary from day to day and from
test to test. Results can vary
within the person being tested.
A person’s blood glucose
levels normally move up and
down depending on meals,
exercise, sickness, and stress.
between different tests.
Each test measures blood
glucose levels in a different
way.
within the same test
Even when the same blood
sample is repeatedly
measured in the same
laboratory, the results may
vary due to small changes in
temperature, equipment, or
sample handling.
Although all these tests
can be used to indicate
diabetes, in some
people one test will
indicate a diagnosis of
diabetes when another
test does not.
People with differing
test results may be in
an early stage of the
disease, where blood
glucose levels have not
risen high enough to
show on every test.
Health care
providers take all
these variations into
account when
considering test
results and repeat
laboratory tests for
confirmation.
Diabetes develops
over time, so even
with variations in
test results, health
care providers can
tell when overall
blood glucose
levels are becoming
too high.
What are the Risk Factors For Prediabetes?
Among those who should be screened forprediabetes include overweight adults
age 45 and older and those under age 45who are overweight and who have one or
more of the following risk factors:
are habitually physically inactive
have previously been identified as havingIFG (impaired fasting glucose) or IGT
(impaired glucose tolerance)
have a family history of diabetes
are members of certain ethnic groups(including Asian American, African
American, Hispanic American, and NativeAmerican)
have had gestational diabetes or havegiven birth to a child weighing more than 9
pounds
have elevated blood pressure
have an HDL cholesterol level (the “good”cholesterol) of 35 mg/dl or lower and/ortriglyceride level of 250 mg/dl or higher
have polycystic ovary syndrome
have a history of vascular disease
Are all people with pre-diabetes overweight?
No!
Although weight plays an
important role in who might
develop prediabetes, not all
people with prediabetes are
overweight.
Even if you are thin you could
still develop prediabetes.
If your family members have a
history of type 2 diabetes,
polycystic ovarian syndrome,
or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis you
may be at risk for pre
diabetes.
Institutes of Health
recommend that all people
age 45 and older – regardless
of their weight and family
history get screened for pre
diabetes.
If you have pre-diabetes , what should you do?The number one line of
defense against prediabetes
is to make changes in your
lifestyle. Although there is a
strong genetic component tied
to the risk of developing pre
diabetes and type 2 diabetes,
studies also show a strong
correlation between obesity,
stress, and physical fitness.
There are people who are thin
and active that develop pre
diabetes, but the majority of
those at risk are overweight.
Losing excess weight is
helpful and reducing or
eliminating processed
carbohydrates and unhealthy
fats from your diet is a must if
you want to tackle pre
diabetes. If you are inactive,
regular exercise can increase
your sensitivity to your body’s
own insulin and can help
reverse prediabetes.
Lose a little weight – and keep it offAre you overweight?
By shedding just five
to 10 percent of your
body weight, you can
prevent or delay
diabetes. But once you
get to the weight you
want, you’ve got to stay
there.
Keep up your
strategies – like
consuming fewer
calories and burning off
more – and give
yourself rewards and
reminders about why
you want to hold on to
your healthier weight.
Add more exerciseTry to be physically
active for 30 to 60
minutes, five days a
week.
That doesn’t have
to mean you’re
sweating it out at
the gym every day,
and it doesn’t have
to be an hour solid.
A few minutes of
biking, walking
briskly or taking the
stairs will all add up
to make a
difference.
Change your unhealthy habits as a familyTwo reasons why it’s agood idea to involve thewhole family in yourlifestyle changes:
First, it’s easier to stickwith healthier foods andphysical exercise if you’reall eating from the samemenu and involved insimilar activities.
Second, Type 2 diabetescan have genetic links. Ifyou start changing the
way you live your life as afamily, the better off all willbe .Diabetes is occurringat a younger and youngerage. You need to instilthese healthy patterns
now.
Get enough sleepNew research is finding that people
who regularly get less than six
hours of sleep a night have
increased insulin resistance.
That means the blood glucose
levels in their overtired bodies are
not well controlled. Aim for more
than six hours of shuteye.
Studies have shown that high
stress levels and a lack of proper
sleep cause the body to become
less sensitive to insulin.
People who do not get enough
sleep run a higher risk of both pre
diabetes and insulin resistance and
are more likely to develop type 2
diabetes.
There are many things you can do
to reduce stress including: yoga,
meditation, prayer, talking walks,
deep breathing, or finding a hobby.
The most important thing is that
you learn to recognize stress and
take active steps to alleviate daily
stresses.
Treat your blood pressure and cholesterol more seriously
After you’ve beendiagnosed with
prediabetes, it’s moreimportant than ever to
keep your blood pressureand cholesterol under
control.
High blood cholesteroland hypertension can
speed you up on the roadto cardiovascular disease.
Your doctor will likely wantto monitor your levels, andmay prescribe medicationfor controlling them. Butlifestyle choices likehealthy eating and
exercise can also helpkeep these in a normal
range.
Take blood glucose-lowering medication
Some drugs used to
treat diabetes by
lowering blood sugar
may also help in
prediabetes.
They’re very effective
at preventing or
delaying the
development of
diabetes.
Your doctor may
suggest a medication if
your lifestyle changes
alone aren’t having a
big enough impact on
your blood glucose.
Test your blood sugar regularly
Now that you know
your blood glucose
levels are above
normal, it’s a good idea
to keep tabs on them.
That way, you can tell
right away if your
choices are making a
difference.
By considering all of
these strategies, you’ll
drastically reduce your
risk of getting Type 2
diabetes.
Everything You Need To Know About Diabetes
Diabetes Support Site Website
http://diabetessupportsite.com