How To Reverse Prediabetes
The statistics are staggering. About a third of all Americans (79 million) have a condition known as prediabetes, in which the blood sugar values are above the normal range but don’t rise to the level of full-blown type 2 diabetes. Many prediabetics don’t know they have the disease and go on eating unhealthy food and forgoing exercise that can ultimately lead to worsened disease. These patients with prediabetes have a little bit of insulin resistance, which causes greater than normal blood glucose levels and which sets the stage for type 2 diabetes and the complications that come out of having the disease. Recent research, published in The Lancet, a major medical journal, showed that prediabetics that had at least a single normal blood glucose reading, were 56 percent more likely to prevent their turning into type 2 diabetics in the next six years. According to experts in disease prevention, having prediabetes should be considered as a chance to take control over your destiny and to turn back the process that is causing the prediabetes to turn into diabetes. There are simple lifestyle techniques that you can involve yourself in that will significantly lessen the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the upcoming years. Lifestyle changes are even better than taking metformin, which is a common treatment for both diabetes and prediabetes. Things you Can Do There are things you can do that will decrease your chances of developing type 2 diabetes and that can reverse prediabetes. All of them are simple to do and can make the difference in your having a healthy and long life versus having a short-lived and disease-ridden life. Here are some things you can do: Lose some weight According to a recent research study called the “Diabetes Prevention Program Study”, eating Continue reading >>
8 Actions To Take If You Have Prediabetes
Changing the Path to Type 2 A whopping 86 million Americans have prediabetes. That’s according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- that's 37 percent of American adults over age 20 and 51 percent of adults over age 65. Research shows about 70 percent of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes over time. Despite these scary stats, only 11 percent of people who have prediabtes know it. The good news is you can prevent or slow the progression of prediabetes to type 2. Numerous research studies conducted over the last 30 years show that early and aggressive management with continued vigilance over time is what prevents or delays type 2 diabetes. And the earlier you detect it and put your plan into action, the better. Here are eight ways to manage prediabetes. 1. Get Tested to Know for Sure. Do you have family -- parents or siblings -- with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes? Are you carrying extra weight around your middle? Don't get enough exercise? These are a few of the risk factors for prediabetes. A good first step to see if you are at high risk is to use the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test. You can take the test by visiting diabetes.org/risk. If you’re at high risk, schedule an appointment with your health care provider to get a check of your blood glucose level -- or, better yet, your A1C (an average of your blood glucose over two to three months). See the blood test results to diagnose prediabetes on the next page. 2. Max Out Your Insulin-Making Reserves. It's well known that at the center of the storm of the slow and steady onset of prediabetes is insulin resistance -- the body's inability, due to excess weight and genetic risk factors, to effectively use the insulin th Continue reading >>
Prediabetes: 7 Steps To Take Now
Getting diagnosed with prediabetes is a serious wake-up call, but it doesn't have to mean you will definitely get diabetes. There is still time to turn things around. “It’s an opportunity to initiate lifestyle changes or treatments, and potentially retard progression to diabetes or even prevent diabetes,” says Gregg Gerety, MD, chief of endocrinology at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, N.Y. Making these seven changes in your daily habits is a good way to start. Becoming more active is one of the best things you can do to make diabetes less likely. If it's been a while since you exercised, start by building more activity into your routine by taking the stairs or doing some stretching during TV commercials, says Patti Geil, MS, RD, author of What Do I Eat Now? “Physical activity is an essential part of the treatment plan for prediabetes, because it lowers blood glucose levels and decreases body fat,” Geil says. Ideally, you should exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Let your doctor know about your exercise plans and ask if you have any limitations. If you're overweight, you might not have to lose as much as you think to make a difference. In one study, people who had prediabetes and lost 5% to 7% of their body weight (just 10-14 pounds in someone who weights 200 pounds) cut their chances of getting diabetes by 58%. See your doctor every three to six months, Gerety says. If you're doing well, you can get positive reinforcement from your doctor. If it's not going so well, your doctor can help you get back on track. "Patients like some tangible evidence of success or failure," Gerety says. Continue reading >>
The 4 Common Mistakes All Prediabetics Must Avoid To Prevent Diabetes
Just a “little touch of sugar?” iStock/stocksnapper If you’re among the 79 million Americans with prediabetes—higher-than-normal levels of blood sugar, which boost your risk for full-blown diabetes and related health problems—don’t shrug it off. New research published in the journal The Lancet found that prediabetic patients who had at least one normal blood sugar reading, even for a short period of time, were 56 percent more likely to avoid progressing to diabetes during nearly six years of follow-up after the study. In other words, “This is your chance to take control,” says Matt Longjohn, MD, MPH, senior director of chronic disease prevention for the YMCA-USA. “Research proves that some simple, daily lifestyle changes can dramatically cut the risk for developing diabetes over the next couple of years by 58 percent, which is better than what is seen with frequently prescribed medications like metformin.” The key? Avoid these four roadblocks between you and a healthier future. iStock/martinedoucet The landmark Diabetes Prevention Program study, which followed 3,234 people with prediabetes for three years, revealed that everyday changes—switching up their eating habits and adding more physical activity—helped participants lose a little weight. Trimming just 5 percent to 7 percent of their body weight (that’s 12.5 pounds for a 180 pound person) and exercising slashed the odds for developing full-blown diabetes by a whopping 58 percent. This helps trim abdominal fat—the deep belly fat that settles in your torso, wraps itself around your internal organs, and even invades your liver. It messes with your liver’s ability to regulate blood sugar by pumping out inflammation-boosting compounds that make your body stop obeying insulin. Smart Move: St Continue reading >>
Five Things You Should Know About Prediabetes
After announcing the expansion of Diabetes Stops Here and asking you which topics you’d like covered, we received a specific request for more information about prediabetes. A staggering 79 million Americans deal with this condition, and while it can lead to crippling health consequences, it can be avoided. Here are five things you should know about prediabetes: 1. What is prediabetes? Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes, a health condition where your blood glucose is higher than normal but not as high as if you had diabetes. 2. How can I find out if I have it? Your doctor can give you a blood test to tell if you have prediabetes (the same test that’s used to test for diabetes). At your next doctor visit, ask if you should be tested for prediabetes. 3. What can I do if I have prediabetes? If you have prediabetes, there are important steps you can, and should, take. Early intervention can turn back the clock and return elevated blood glucose levels to the normal range. Losing weight is an important step for most people with prediabetes, and the amount doesn’t have to be huge to make a difference. A weight loss of just 10 to 15 pounds can really stack the odds in your favor. Coupled with 30 minutes of exercise each day and healthy food choices, you’ll be on your way. Talk with your doctor and visit our website to learn more about other ways you can prevent or reverse the condition. 4. Does this mean I’m going to develop type 2 diabetes? Prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes…but it doesn’t have to. Scientific studies show taking the above steps can often halt or at least slow down the progression of prediabetes so it doesn’t take a turn for the worse. 5. Where can I find help? You are not alone. It’s never too late Continue reading >>
How I Was Able To Reverse Prediabetes And You Can Too In Just 11 Steps!
Note: Today’s post was written by Nancy Klein, a natural health enthusiast. Before I discovered these 11 natural healthy tips, I was one of the many Americans walking around with prediabetes and not knowing it. I would consider myself extremely lucky to have gotten this warning sign because I was able to stop the progression and reverse prediabetes that may have eventually led to diabetes type 2. I didn’t believe I had prediabetes, I wasn’t overweight! I found out from a blood test that I had prediabetes and this didn’t make any sense because I thought that I was eating a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and limited carbs. I never had a weight problem, at my 40th high school reunion I weighed only 5 lbs over my slim high school weight! My only health concern was being occasionally hypothyroid and for that I was seeing a great homeopathic doctor that kept an eye on my thyroid levels. But when he tested by blood, I found out that my blood sugar was slightly out of normal range. His recommendation–stop eating fruits! I hated to hear this because I had been enjoying eating an orange every day and I thought this was a healthy thing to do. Well, fast forward to one year later and my blood sugar is much improved. I was able to reverse prediabetes! I feel that now, I am the healthiest I’ve ever been because I have followed some simple steps to get my blood sugar in check. You can reverse prediabetes, too! Is Prediabetes Common? Over 79 million Americans have prediabetes according to data from the CDC and many of them are walking around not knowing this! Most importantly, they are missing out on the opportunity to prevent future type 2 diabetes and the resulting multitude of detrimental health effects such as; heart disease, neuropathy, kidney disease, eye damage Continue reading >>
Three Easy Ways To Reverse Prediabetes
There’s a hidden sugar crisis that’s sweeping the continent, and we’re not talking about what’s lurking in the nearest vending machine (although it does contribute to the problem). We’re talking about the 80 million North Americans with prediabetes, a condition that is characterized by higher-than-normal blood sugar levels. Prediabetes is a risky condition: It doesn’t just put you in line for diabetes and all of its complications. Even before you develop full-blown diabetes, having slightly elevated blood glucose levels puts you at increased risk for heart disease and stroke, leg pain due to circulation problems, reduced kidney function and blood-vessel changes that can lead to vision loss and neuropathy (nerve damage), as well as sexual dysfunction and depression. Unfortunately, only one in 10 people with prediabetes even know they have it. And just a quarter of those folks are taking advantage of their big opportunity (knock, knock) to launch their own health rescue initiative before it’s too late. Scary statistic: Once you’ve got prediabetes (find out by asking your doctor for a fasting blood sugar test or the A1c test that measures average glucose levels over a three-month period), odds are you’ll develop full-blown diabetes within nine to 10 years. Amazing fact: While more than 65 per cent of North Americans have genes that predispose them to type 2 diabetes, it’s almost 100 per cent preventable at the prediabetes stage and doesn’t have to happen. Here’s how to move your blood sugar back into the healthy zone and sidestep the health risks of prediabetes: Eat less beef. Simple, but it’s true: More beef on your plate equals more diabetes risk. Eating an extra three to four servings of red meat per week boosts your risk for developing diabete Continue reading >>
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How Long Does It Take To Reverse Prediabetes?
Diabetes Forum The Global Diabetes Community Find support, ask questions and share your experiences. Join the community How long does it take to reverse prediabetes? First post, but straight in with a question which I'm sure should go somewhere else. I was HbA1c 6.5% end of June and now 6.2%, heading in the right direction. BMI is 25. Step count on average 15K/day with lots of hard games of squash a week, dog-walking every day etc... Diet changes include cutting out all sugar (chocolate, sweets, desserts, biscuits etc), replacing white carbs with wholemeal, smaller portions (and particularly carbs), more fresh veg and fruit, more fish, more and more regular water. How long might it take with this regime to keep moving the needle back into the "safe" range? However, carry on as you are, and you will get there. Good luck. Keep going with what you are doing, and wait and see. But the reality is that now you have had a brush with diabetes, you will always be at higher risk than people who haven't. You already know this, but keeping D at bay depends on lifetime lifestyle changes, no backsliding, and finding a way of living and a way of eating that is sustainable for ever. There are quite a few of us on here who have, with the best will in the world, made huge changes in our lives, and then for any number of reasons (often stress, illness or personal tragedy), lapsed and re-crossed the line. Every time that happens, it becomes harder and harder to recover lost ground. Sorry to inject a downer, but this really isn't a case of making temporary changes, hitting target and then relaxing. Excellent advice from the preceding posters. All I can add to that is that if I fall off the wagon for any reason (social, gluttony etc) then when I get back on the wagon I see my numbers slowly Continue reading >>
Can My Prediabetes Be Reversed?
A lot of ladies ask me - Can My Prediabetes Be Reversed? Read on to find out what reversal means and if you can do it. Ladies, ladies from far and wide -- I’ve got great news for you! The U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services confirms that Insulin Resistance, Prediabetes and Metabolic Syndrome ALL can be reversed! We can celebrate! But before the celebrations begin we need to talk about 4 things --- 1. The Odds Of You Getting Type 2 Diabetes 2. What Does Reversing Prediabetes Mean? 3. How Long Does It Take To Reverse Prediabetes? 4. Can I Get Prediabetes Again? The Odds Of You Getting Type 2 Diabetes 15 to 30% of Prediabetics will get Type 2 Diabetes within 5 years, so time is of the essence! That means if you’re thinking about trying for reversal, the time to start is now! And to make matters even more front and center, 70% of Prediabetics will get Type 2 Diabetes in their lifetime. So, if you have Prediabetes, you have a 70% chance of getting Diabetes. Knowing you have a 70% chance of getting a life-threatening disease is even more of a kick in the butt to get going – now! You need to be learning everything you can so you can reverse your Prediabetes and leave Type 2 Diabetes in the dust! What Does Reversing Prediabetes Mean? Reversing Prediabetes means you have restored all of your abnormal blood tests back to normal. Prediabetes (those nasty numbers you DON'T want) A1C: 5.7 – 6.4% (or 38.8 – 46.4 mmol/mol) (or 6.5 – 7.6 mmol/L) Fasting Blood Glucose: 100 – 125 mg/dL (or 5.6 mmol/L – 6.9 mmol/L) Prediabetes Reversed (those glorious numbers you DO want) A1C: less than 5.7% (or less than 38.8 mmol/mol) (or less than 6.5 mmol/L) Fasting Blood Glucose: less than 100 mg/dL (or less than 5.6 mmol/l) NOTE! Do keep in mind that only blood tests Continue reading >>
What Everyone Needs To Know About Prediabetes
By Leda Espinoza and Alexander Wolf Twitter summary: Prediabetes affects millions of Americans, costs billions of dollars, and increases risk of developing #t2 #diabetes. What to do about it? Many people have heard about type 2 diabetes, but its common precursor, prediabetes, doesn’t get as much attention. Prediabetes is estimated by CDC to affect 86 million Americans (51% of whom are 65 years and older), and an estimated 90% of people with prediabetes don’t even know it. According to the CDC, 15-30% of these individuals will develop type 2 diabetes within five years. In other words, as many as 26 million people that currently have prediabetes could develop type 2 diabetes by 2020, effectively doubling the number of people with type 2 diabetes in the US. Prediabetes is also expensive. A 2014 Diabetes Care study estimated that prediabetes costs $44 billion annually, a 74% increase over a five-year period. This learning curve provides an overview of prediabetes, outlining what it is, how it is diagnosed, how it is treated, and more. Prediabetes is an issue that affects our entire society and one that more and more people should be focused on. Table of Contents What are the symptoms of prediabetes? How is prediabetes diagnosed? What can people with prediabetes do to avoid the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes? What is prediabetes? Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. This occurs when the body has problems in processing glucose properly, and sugar starts to build up in the bloodstream instead of fueling cells in muscles and tissues. Insulin is the hormone that tells cells to take up glucose, and in prediabetes, people typically initially develop insulin resistanc Continue reading >>
Do I Have Prediabetes?
National Diabetes Prevention Program The CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program offers scientifically proven and effective lifestyle change programs that can help you prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The program can show you how to make better food choices, be more physically active, and find helpful ways to cope with problems and stress. You'll work with a trained lifestyle coach and a small group of people who are all working towards the same goal. It’ll last for 1 year (including meetings about once per week in the first 6 months). The hundreds of local community partners are required by CDC to meet high standards and prove results. You can do it in person, or online. This is a proven program to motivate and support people with prediabetes to make practical, real-life changes, and cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than half. That's kind of big news. The hundreds of organizations across the U.S. that offer these programs are focused on one thing only — positive results. So use our program locator to find one near you. Usually, your doctor can tell you if you qualify. It's generally based on your body mass index (which is based on your height and weight), your blood sugar levels (blood test), your age (must be 18 or older), and if you have a history of gestational diabetes (meaning you developed diabetes when you were pregnant). You may also qualify based on results from the online risk test. Just one more reason to take it! Costs for the program are often covered by insurance providers or employers. For some people, there may be a cost. Check with your employer or insurance provider to see if the program is a covered benefit for you. Watch how Mike joined the National Diabetes Prevention Program and found support to make healthy lifestyle Continue reading >>
How Long Does It Take To Reverse Diabetes?
“And by the third day, I got this burst of energy,” says Mr. Garlin. “I felt as good as I did when I was in high school. And all this without taking any medications… just eating healthy and exercising. That’s all it was!” Not everyone’s blood sugar (glucose) tumbles as quickly as Mr. Garlin’s, but there is plenty of research affirming that a healthy diet like the Pritikin Eating Plan combined with daily exercise can profoundly reduce blood sugar levels in just two to three week’s time. Prevention of Diabetes There is also strong science showing that a healthy lifestyle like Pritikin can prevent pre-diabetes from developing into full-blown diabetes. (Pre-diabetes is defined as having a fasting glucose between 100 and 125. Diabetes is a fasting glucose of 126 or higher.) Foods That Fight Diabetes Pritikin eating means focusing on whole foods that are naturally rich in fiber and naturally low in fats, sugars, and industrial refinement. Pritikin foods are vegetables, whole fruits (not juice), whole grains, legumes such as beans and peas, nonfat dairy foods, and moderate servings of lean meat such as fish, skinless chicken breast, and game meat like bison and venison. How Long Does It Take To Reverse Diabetes? | The Science About 20 years ago, scientists began discovering how quickly diabetes could be reversed. Researchers at UCLA tracked1 men and women with type 2 diabetes who had attended the Pritikin Longevity Center, where they learned and adopted healthy Pritikin food and fitness habits. Three Weeks Among the 652 people studied, 240 were “new diabetics,” that is, they had only recently been diagnosed with the disease; they were not yet taking any medications. Within an average of three weeks at Pritikin, the blood sugar (glucose) levels of these ne Continue reading >>
Prediabetes
What Is Prediabetes? Prediabetes is a “pre-diagnosis” of diabetes—you can think of it as a warning sign. It’s when your blood glucose level (blood sugar level) is higher than normal, but it’s not high enough to be considered diabetes. Prediabetes is an indication that you could develop type 2 diabetes if you don’t make some lifestyle changes. But here's the good news: . Eating healthy food, losing weight and staying at a healthy weight, and being physically active can help you bring your blood glucose level back into the normal range. Diabetes develops very gradually, so when you’re in the prediabetes stage—when your blood glucose level is higher than it should be—you may not have any symptoms at all. You may, however, notice that: you’re hungrier than normal you’re losing weight, despite eating more you’re thirstier than normal you have to go to the bathroom more frequently you’re more tired than usual All of those are typical symptoms associated with diabetes, so if you’re in the early stages of diabetes, you may notice them. Prediabetes develops when your body begins to have trouble using the hormone insulin. Insulin is necessary to transport glucose—what your body uses for energy—into the cells via the bloodstream. In pre-diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or it doesn’t use it well (that’s called insulin resistance). If you don’t have enough insulin or if you’re insulin resistant, you can build up too much glucose in your blood, leading to a higher-than-normal blood glucose level and perhaps prediabetes. Researchers aren’t sure what exactly causes the insulin process to go awry in some people. There are several risk factors, though, that make it more likely that you’ll develop pre-diabetes. These are Continue reading >>
Prediabetes Can Be Reversed
Yes, you can stop diabetes before it begins, but you won’t receive the care you need if you don’t even know you have the problem. Screening is now recommended for everyone beginning at 45 years of age. Publisher’s Comment: Since you can have a normal fasting blood sugar and still have diabetes and prediabetes, why not use the A1c test. Even though the A1c test is not recommended for diagnosing diabetes and prediabetes, it is certainly and inexpensive and easy to do test. And if their A1c is in the high 5’s you can do a glucose tolerance test. You can delay or stop diabetes if you catch it before it truly begins. Doctors call this early stage prediabetes. The condition exists when your blood sugar levels rise higher than normal, yet remain lower than those found in diabetes. Studies show that effective treatments can prevent the progression of prediabetes to diabetes. Here’s where new guidelines from the American Diabetes Association enter. Based on the updated advice, many more people should get tested for prediabetes than in the past. And some folks should begin receiving the tests well before middle age, the association says. Scientists estimate that an unprecedented 54 million Americans have prediabetes. Without treatment, most people with the condition will go on to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus within 10 years, studies show. Full-blown diabetes causes abnormally high blood sugar levels that may lead to serious health problems. Even before then, though, people with prediabetes face many of the same health risks as diabetics. For example, people with prediabetes have 1 1/2 times greater risk of heart disease and stroke compared while diabetics have two to four times increased risk. The American Diabetes Association recommends a blood test for all adults Continue reading >>
Prediabetes: What You Need To Know
Note: If you have just found out you have prediabetes then make sure to download our free diabetes starter’s guide. Prediabetes is a very early form of diabetes. The first thing you should know about prediabetes is that it is reversible and does not have to lead to full blown diabetes. The second thing you should know about prediabetes is that you –and really only you—have the power to reverse it. How can you do that? By incorporating some significant dietary and lifestyle changes into your life—these are significant changes, but not terribly difficult ones. But first, some basic information so that you understand why these changes can change a prediabetic condition to a non-diabetic condition. The Basics of Prediabetes A person with prediabetes has levels of blood sugar that is higher than normal, but the levels of blood glucose (sugar) are not quite high enough to be confidently diagnosed as diabetes. But, anyone with consistently higher levels of fasting blood glucose has a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)—about 15-30% of people with prediabetes develop Type-2 diabetes. In prediabetes, the cells of the body do not respond effectively to insulin– they are resistant to the insulin. Because the cells of the body are resistant, they don’t absorb sugar from the blood– these cells are essentially “ignoring” the signals from insulin. How Prediabetes Can Develop Every cell in our body uses glucose (sugar) for producing the energy needed for the cells to do their jobs. This glucose is derived from the foods we eat, primarily from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are one of the main groups of nutrients—the other are fats and proteins. Carbohydrates are molecules composed of chains of various different sugars, including glucose. The glucose is d Continue reading >>
