PREDIABETES
WHAT IS IT?
Prediabetes is a condition in which a person’s blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetic. The Centers for Disease Control estimates 1 in every 3 adults has prediabetes.
WHO SHOULD GET TESTED FOR PREDIABETES?
You are 45 years or older.
Or you are overweight, and have any of the following:
– Do little or no exercise
– Have a family member with diabetes
– Are African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
– Had a baby over 9 lbs or were diagnosed with diabetes during your pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
– Have high blood pressure or take medication for it
– Have low HDL cholesterol (less than 35)
– Have high triglycerides (higher than 250)
– Have ever been told your blood sugar has been high in the past
– Have signs of insulin resistance such as darkening of the skin on the back of your neck
– Have a history a heart disease
HOW IS SOMEONE TESTED FOR PREDIABETES?
Prediabetes is tested through a blood sample. You can test your blood sugar when you haven’t eaten for 8 hrs or more (called fasting blood sugar). The normal range for fasting blood sugar is 70-99. You are considered prediabetic if your fasting blood sugar is 100-125.
Another blood test is called hemoglobin A1C. The normal range for A1C is between 4 and 5.6. You are considered prediabetic if your A1C is between 5.7 and 6.4.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT OR DELAY THE ONSET OF PREDIABETES?
– Reduce or avoid sugary beverages. Instead drink water, seltzer, or diet drinks.
– Include a non-starchy vegetable at lunch and/or dinner. (Potatoes, peas, and corn are starchy vegetables, and like other starches they turn to sugar in your blood.)
– Switch to whole grains, such as whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta and couscous, brown rice, quinoa, and oatmeal.
– If you are overweight, lose weight. Losing just 5% of your body weight can have a huge impact on your health.
– Drink alcohol only in moderation, which means no more than 2 drinks/day for men and 1 drink/day for women. One drink is defined as 12 oz. beer, 5 oz. of wine, or a 1.5 oz. of liquor.
– Increase physical activity. Exercise lowers your blood sugar, burns calories, and reduces stress.