Treatment Overview
Your treatment for prediabetes will focus on losing weight, eating right, and getting active. This is your chance to reverse prediabetes so it doesn't turn into type 2 diabetes. Doing these things will also help you avoid other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke, that are linked to diabetes.
You may also need to take diabetes medicine along with doing these things. But research has shown that over the long term, healthy lifestyle changes can work better than medicine at reducing your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.2
Watch your weight
Most people who have prediabetes are overweight and have a
body mass index (BMI) of 25 or
higher. To find out your BMI, use the
Interactive Tool: Is Your BMI Increasing Your Health Risks?
If you have a BMI of 25 or higher, losing 5% to 10% of your body weight may help you prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.2 For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, losing 10 to 20 pounds can reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes. It is especially helpful to lose belly fat.
A healthy weight helps your body use insulin the way it should. Losing weight can also lower insulin resistance in people who have prediabetes. The more you lose, the more you benefit, as long as you do it in a healthy way.
How you do it is up to you. One way to start is by making healthy eating changes that you can keep doing over time. Try reducing the number of calories you eat and drink and adding more activity to your day. For help, see the topic Weight Management.
|
One Man's Story: Jerry, 54 Jerry signed up for a weight-loss program and started a daily food diary to track what and when he ate. He added walks around the neighborhood and visits to the gym to his routine. In 7 months, he dropped 25 pounds-about 10% of his body weight. "It hasn't been easy. I've had some ups and downs, especially over the holidays. Hey, I love to eat. Sometimes it's hard to stay focused. But tracking what, when, and why I eat helps me to eat less."-Jerry |
Make healthy food choices
Eating a balanced diet is one of the best things you can do for yourself and for your health. Try to:
- Limit the amount of fat you eat. Eat foods low in saturated fat and high in soluble fiber.
- Cut calories.
- Limit sweets.
For help, see the topic Healthy Eating and:
-
Healthy Eating: Starting a Plan for Change. -
Healthy Eating: Cutting Unhealthy Fats From Your Diet.
-
Diabetes: Using a Plate Format for Eating.
Get active
The more active you are, the more sugar (glucose) your body uses for energy. This keeps the sugar from building up in your blood. Exercise can also improve insulin resistance.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Diabetes GuideIs This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
how well you manage your blood sugar over time.
This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
Step: of
Today on WebMD
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.