Are There Ways Of Preventing Diabetes?

Improving eating habits and beginning an exercise program have been proven to be an effective methods of preventing the development of pre-diabetes. Also known as impaired-fasting glucose, pre-diabetes is reversible; that is, sugar levels can be returned to normal with diet, exercise, and occasionally medication, meaning that you can take steps to ward off impending, full-blown diabetes. But what exactly is pre-diabetes? It is the precursor to developing type 2 diabetes and refers to higher than normal glucose content in the blood.

Diabetes prevention is possible. If you are preconditioned to developing diabetes because of your genetic background, age, or weight, you will be happy to know that you may be able to delay or prevent altogether the onset of the disease. People whose ethic background includes African, Native American, Latino, and Asian are particularly prone to developing diabetes. If you belong to one of these groups and are older than forty-five, you should get tested for pre-diabetes or diabetes.

Two standard tests performed by a doctor can tell if you are pre-diabetic. The tests are the Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). The results of these tests will confirm whether you have pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, or if you are diabetes free.

The FPG test is normally done in the morning, and the patient is advised not to eat anything after 10 PM the previous night. A higher-than-normal reading for the FPG is an indication that you have become insulin resistant.

The oral glucose tolerance test is used to measure your blood glucose level after an overnight fast, but unlike the FPG, you are also given a glucose drink two hours after the test. Your blood glucose levels are then checked two hours later; if the range is between 140 and 199 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), you will be considered pre-diabetic. These levels are also an indication that you may develop type 2 diabetes later on.

If you test positive to having pre-diabetes, it is important to take annual tests so that you catch developed diabetes in its early stages. Early diagnosis is the easiest way to get the disease under control before too much damage has been done to vital organs.

Preventing pre-diabetes is possible with a change of diet and an increase in activity level. Thirty minutes of moderate activity coupled with weight loss is recommended by the American Diabetes Association as the best way of minimizing your risk of becoming pre-diabetic. Even if you aren’t in the category of people that are more predisposed to pre-diabetes or diabetes itself, proper health care and physical activity are important regardless.

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Filed under: diabetes care

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