Prediabetes is an indicator that you may need to make some serious lifestyle changes to get your health back on track. Preventing diabetes begins with taking actions to lower some of the risks associated with the disease.
Your body produces a hormone known as insulin, which helps control your blood sugar levels. Prediabetes makes it difficult for your body to respond to or create enough insulin, ultimately allowing you to keep your blood sugar level. Diabetes can put you at risk of having a stroke or heart disease.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of prediabetes or are concerned about having a family history of it, you should book a consultation with Innovative Care Medicine – Riverside. Our office located in Riverside, California, where our dedicated team is committed to meeting your healthcare needs.
What is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a health condition where your blood sugar levels are high enough to cause concern. However, prediabetes does not mean that your blood sugar levels are high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin. This type of resistance may develop if you’ve gained excess weight. Prediabetes can put you at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. When your pancreas can no longer produce insulin, it results in type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is dangerous because it can damage vital organs by spiking up your glucose levels. Your pancreas begins making more insulin than is necessary when the cells in your body no longer respond to it normally. When your pancreas fails to keep up after a while, your blood sugar begins to rise.
Consider some of these factors that may be putting you at higher risk for prediabetes.
- Being overweight
- Having an immediate family member with type 2 diabetes
- Having gestational diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome
- Being over 45 years of age
There are no apparent signs or symptoms for prediabetes, so it is vital to maintain regular checkups with your doctor. You should talk to Dr. Ohri about getting a blood sugar test, which will indicate your average blood glucose.
Diagnosis
A glycated hemoglobin test (A1C), or average blood sugar test, shows your average blood sugar level for the previous two or three months. The results are 5.7% to 6.4% if you have prediabetes.
People with diabetes will produce a result of 6.5% to above. The test works by measuring the level of glucose molecules attached to hemoglobin. Dr. Ohri will determine if you should be tested for prediabetes during your evaluation.
Delaying or preventing diabetes
Losing weight if you’re overweight can lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Regular exercise can help you to begin reducing your body weight, as well as discovering healthier eating habits. Losing as little as 5% to 10% of your body weight is enough to make a significant difference.
Vegetables, whole grains, low-fat protein, and limiting calories, sugars, and starchy carbs can help you get your weight down. Foods rich in fiber like oatmeal or sweet potatoes can help you control your eating habits, making you feel fuller, faster.
Seeing Dr. Ohri every three to six months could help you commit to a plan that will allow you to make better health decisions consistently. Pursuing a healthier lifestyle requires support, and Dr. Ohri may be able to help hold you accountable while preventing prediabetes from becoming more serious.
If you believe that your blood sugar levels may be higher than average, don’t hesitate to contact our office or book an appointment online.