If your doctor says your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, you may be on your way to becoming diabetic. Prediabetes is a medical condition that can be the forerunner of a diagnosis of type-1 or type-2 diabetes.
Here’s how to recognize the signs of prediabetes, what your risk factors for it may be, and where you can go for effective diabetes treatment in Oviedo, Florida.
Signs and Symptoms of Prediabetes
Frankly, people can go a long time with prediabetes and not even know they have it. What alerts healthcare providers are fasting glucose levels which are borderline high and A1C blood tests between 5.7 and 6.4. A1C is the measure of the average blood glucose levels over two to three months.
However, over time, prediabetes can develop into a true diagnosis of diabetes with increased blood sugar levels, and people experience symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, intense thirst, constant hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, and dark skin in the neck, armpits, and groin areas. These outward signs and elevated blood glucose levels with A1c greater than 6.5 indicate a diagnosis of diabetes.
Risk Factors for Prediabetes
Everyone should be aware that anyone can be at risk for prediabetes even children. Developing it has a lot to do with lifestyle: lack of exercise, a high-fat, high-sugar diet, obesity, and smoking definitely factor into the diagnosis. In fact, if you are at 120 percent of your ideal body weight, you are likely prediabetic.
Other risk factors which people cannot control include:
- Age (45 years old and up)
- Family history of diabetes
- Ethnicity (Hispanics, Native Americans, African Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Asian Americans seem more prone to prediabetes)
- Having had gestational diabetes, or diabetes while pregnant
- Having a baby 9 pounds or larger in birth weight
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Hypertension
- Sleep apnea (breathing cessation during sleep)
What You Can Do About Prediabetes
Fortunately, a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk factors for prediabetes and diabetes. This includes:
- A high-fiber, low-fat, and low-carb diet
- Avoiding processed foods, especially meats and fast foods
- Exercising at least 150 minutes per week
- Staying well-hydrated
- Stopping all tobacco products
- Limiting alcohol intake to one drink a day for women and two for men
Also, individuals at risk for diabetes should get their blood sugars checked at least once a year or more often.
Prediabetes Treatment in Oviedo, Florida
At the Diabetes & Weight Loss Center, our healthcare providers work with patients of all ages to reduce their risk of prediabetes and diabetes. We will identify your risk factors and help you develop an active lifestyle and healthy eating plan to keep your blood glucose levels well within the normal range.
To learn more, call us for an in-depth consultation with our lead provider, Adriel Perez. We have seen numerous patients get their blood levels, weight, and overall wellness well-controlled. You, too, can thrive.
If you would like to schedule a consultation, call our office at (407) 890-1876 or fill out our online appointment request form.
