Treatment Overview
continued...
Try to do moderate activity at least 2½ hours a week. Or try to do vigorous activity at least 1¼ hours a week. It's fine to be active in blocks of 10 minutes or more throughout your day and week.
Moderate activity is safe for most people, but it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before you start an exercise program. For more help, see the topic Fitness and:
- Quick Tips: Getting Active At Home.
-
Fitness: Adding More Activity to Your Life. -
Fitness: Walking for Wellness.
|
One Woman's Story: Linda, 39 Linda works full-time, has three young children, and has zero time for the gym. So when she learned she had prediabetes, she had to find creative ways to fit activity into her day. For example, after dinner she turns up the stereo and does dance moves while washing dishes, putting food away, and cleaning the kitchen. "It takes about a half-hour and is a great workout. My kids get a big kick out of it too."-Linda |
Take medicine if you need to
You may need to take an oral medicine, such as metformin. It reduces the amount of sugar made by the liver in people who are insulin resistant.
If you do need medicine, be sure to take it as directed. For more information, see the Medications section of this topic.
If you smoke, quit
Quitting smoking can help you reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and avoid other health problems that make diabetes worse. Quitting can also reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Watch blood pressure and cholesterol levels
When you have prediabetes, you are more likely to get heart disease than someone with normal blood sugar levels. High cholesterol is also linked to an increased risk for type 2 diabetes.3 So it's important to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. For help, see:
- Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) for high cholesterol.
-
High Blood Pressure: Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home.
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.
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