The Doctor Said I Am Prediabetic, What Should I Do Now?
"Prediabetes" described a condition wherein blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes outright.
Pre-diabetes puts person so diagnosed at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes and associated complications.
The biochemical profile of the blood is with an A1C of 5.7% - 6.4%, a fasting blood glucose of 100 - 125 mg/dl and an OGTT [Oral Glucose Tolerance Test] 2 hour blood glucose of 140 mg/dl - 199 mg/dl. There are no clear symptoms of pre-diabetes, so, it is common to have it and not know it.
Pre-diabetes is really an opportune time because it gives one a second chance to straighten out their diet and lifestyle. It is not panic time. A Chinese proverb often quoted goes like this: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Diabetes is a chronic disease; pre-diabetes is analogous to the beginning step of the chronic journey of type 2 diabetes. At this stage one has numerous options. The very first decision to make is not go any further than pre-diabetes in the diabetes journey. Learn all you can from your doctor. Research it on the internet in diabetes forums and blogs. Make friends with others who are pre-diabetic or diabetic and exchange experiences.
Be entirely open-minded. There is more help out there than most realize. Analyze your food. Get a glucometer. Before any meal check your blood sugar and repeat 2 hours after meal. This is a simple way to determine which food gives you a higher glycemic response and build you self a list of foods to avoid. This is how you distinguish what your body is telling you versus what your taste buds are telling you.
Be diligent in doing this and respect the foods on you avoid list like a plague. No yea but. No rationalizations. Be blunt about not negotiating. This is a unique opportunity to prevent diabetes from gaining a foothold in your body. Learn about food. Search out nutritionists and dieticians and consult with them. They will introduce you to foods you don't know are good for you yet and ones you must begin to avoid.
At the stage of pre-diabetes, you can arrest diabetes from blossoming. If you are overweight, this is a time to embark on shedding some pounds. Get involved with exercise. It does not have to be knockout drag out iron pumping exercise. We are talking simple things like swimming, walking around the block, taking the dog out, riding a bicycle, power walking, using the steps instead of the elevator, etc.
When you go shopping, park the car a little farther away so you can put in some walking. It would not hurt to obtain a gym membership if only to use the very many equipment they have to achieve your exercise goals.
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