Prediabetes— Could It Be You?

On a recent check-up of mine it was revealed to me that I have prediabetes. Up to a few months ago I'd never heard of the term. Now I'm told I have it and is facing the challenge of a changed diet and routine. In the U.S. alone, there are millions of people who have prediabetes. According to Reuters, only one of the eight people is aware that they have this condition. If no actions are made, it can lead to type 2 diabetes that will deter you from enjoying your life. One reason why the number of people with diabetes continue to soar is because of lack of awareness. To revert the scenario, there is the need to instill knowledge and do efficient preventive measures. But first what is prediabetes and more important-could it be you?

What is Prediabetes?

When you are heading the path towards being a diabetic, it is called prediabetes. Some people coin it borderline diabetes because glucose level is relatively high, but the elevation is not full-blown. As glucose spikes up, the body is not functioning at its optimum. It is either the body is not producing enough insulin or it does not respond well to this hormone. The fact that it is not yet diabetes, there is still a chance to turn the tides.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition that affects the body’s mechanism in handling glucose. The most common is type 2 diabetes that upsets 27 million of people in U.S. according to WebMD. In this kind of diabetes, there is a so-called insulin resistance in which the body does not recognize insulin. Since insulin is not recognized, the cells cannot use the glucose as body energy. As a result, it stays on the blood resulting to elevated glucose level.

Causes of Diabetes

There are a lot of risk factors for diabetes. Your susceptibility to this life-long illness depends on how many risks factors are applied to you.

·         Genes. Your bits of DNA can influence the creation of insulin in your body. In view of this, DNA can be passed through generations— parents, siblings, or children. Thus, heredity is a risk to diabetes development.

·         Lifestyle. Sugary delights and sedentary lifestyle is a risk for diabetes. With this way of life, chances that you may get overweight or obese is high causing insulin resistance.

·         Race. There is a risk for developing diabetes if you are a Native American, Asian-American, Alaska Native, African-American, or Pacific Islander-American.

·         Other risks. These include hypertension, gestational diabetes, low level of good cholesterol, inadequate or too much sleep, smoking, and depression.

The Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you may experience the following.

·         Blurred vision

·         Numbness in hands and feet

·         Irritable

·         Being very thirsty

·         Frequent urinating

·         Get tired easily

·         Wounds do not heal

Prevention

Once you are aware of diabetes, you can prevent it from happening. As a matter of fact, there are numerous of things that you can do with lifestyle as your starting point.

·         Be active. Do not just stay on the couch the whole day while watching your favorite TV series. Allot time to do physical exercises. Jog in the neighborhood, go to the gym, or clean the house. Just sweat and lose those extra pounds.

·         Eat wisely. Be particular on what you introduce to your system. Instead of opting for pastries or candies, choose fruits and vegetables as your food delight.

·         Quit smoking. Smoking is known to be a risk of many diseases. You just have to turn away from this vice for good.

Prediabetes Management

Prediabetes is not diabetes. So don't panic! If you have been told that you are a borderline diabetic, just simply face it head on. Practice a healthy routine and follow the doctor’s instructions to adjust your diet.

Play It Safe!

Now is the time for some reality check about prediabetes. No one knows who will be hit by a particular illness. With this, always be aware when you and your family’s health is concern. Play it safe and stay healthy!