Prevention
Many people have prediabetes before they have type 2 diabetes. If you're concerned about your risk, talk with your doctor. He or she will order tests to check your blood sugar levels. If you have prediabetes, you should be tested for type 2 diabetes every year. To learn more, see the topic Prediabetes.
You can take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes. Even small changes can make a difference, and it is never too late to start making healthier choices.
Stay at a healthy weight
A healthy weight is one that is right for your body type and height
and is based on your
body mass index (BMI) and the size of your waist (waist circumference). Losing just 7% of your body weight can help reduce
your risk for type 2 diabetes.1 If you
are age 20 or older, use the
Interactive Tool: Is Your BMI Increasing Your Health Risks? 
to check
your BMI. To use the tool, you'll need to know your height in feet, weight in
pounds, and waist circumference.
Exercise regularly
Do activities that raise your heart rate. Try to do moderate activity at least 2� hours a week. Or try to do vigorous activity at least 1� hours a week. It's fine to be active in blocks of 10 minutes or more throughout your day and week.
Also include resistance exercises in your exercise program.2 Resistance exercises can include activities like weight lifting or even yard work.
Walking groups or programs where you use a pedometer to count the number of steps you take in a day are great ways to start exercising and to stay motivated.
Using an
exercise planning form
(What is a PDF document?) may help you and your doctor create a personalized exercise
program.
Eat healthy foods
Review the dietary guidelines for good health, which are good for everyone, including people who have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
- Eat a balanced diet, including whole grains, lean sources of protein, and vegetables. Lose weight if you need to, by eating fewer calories and exercising more.
- Get enough fiber.
Take medicine if you need it
If weight loss, exercise, and eating healthy foods don't help lower your blood sugar, you may need to take medicine. For people who have prediabetes, the medicine metformin can help prevent type 2 diabetes.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Topics
Is 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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