Linda's Story: Getting Active When You Have Prediabetes - Linda's story
Linda works full time, has three young children, and has zero time for the gym. So when she learned that she had prediabetes, she had to find creative ways to fit activity into her day.
"My trick is to not call it 'exercise.' Instead, I just look for ways to add small workouts to my day," she says.
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," she says. "My kids get a big kick out of it too."
At work, she walks at lunch by herself or with a friend.
"Walking is great for me, because I don't have to buy anything to do it, and it doesn't take a lot of my time," she says.
While watching TV, Linda sits on an inflatable stability ball that helps strengthen her core muscles. On other nights she uses small hand weights to do arm lifts during commercial breaks.
Every little bit helps
At 39, with a family history of type 2 diabetes, Linda says she should have watched her weight more carefully. She wasn't too surprised by her prediabetes diagnosis. But she got motivated right away to do what she could about it.
"I watched my mom inject herself with insulin every day. Sometimes she needed my help," Linda says. "She had the hardest time keeping her blood sugar down and figuring out what to eat. I don't want to go down that road if I can avoid it."
Linda uses the diabetes plate format to help her make healthy eating choices. She's added more vegetables to her daily meals, such as a salad to go with lunch and carrots for snacks. She avoids most starches but does eat high-fiber cereal and breads.
"In general, when it comes to starches, if it's blinding white, I don't eat it," she says. "But you have to live a little. My motto is: Everything in moderation."
This story is based on information gathered from many people living with prediabetes.
For more information, see the topic Prediabetes.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
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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.
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