Pre-Diabetes is a warning on the road
to Type 2 Diabetes
Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose is referred to as Pre-Diabetes. It is a warning sign that you are at risk for Type 2 diabetes. Most people with Type 2 diabetes, first had pre-diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is a life-long disease which causes the body to not produce enough insulin. Over time Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart and large blood vessel disease, stroke, impaired vision, and nerve and kidney disease.
Prediabetes occurs when the body does not respond properly to insulin and therefore cannot keep blood sugar levels within a normal range.
The food you eat turns into blood glucose, or sugar. The blood stream transports glucose to all the cells in your body to be used for energy. Normally, the pancreas produces insulin, which allows the sugar in the blood to enter the body’s cells. When your body’s tissues are not responding properly to insulin, it becomes difficult for cells to get glucose from the blood for energy. This is called insulin resistance. When this happens, the cells cannot use the glucose, which remains in the blood. The buildup of sugar in the blood causes pre-diabetes. Over time, if not treated, the condition may get worse and lead to type 2 diabetes.
Treatment: Treatment focuses mainly on eating a healthy diet that spreads carbohydrate throughout the day; eating foods low in saturated fat and high in soluable fiber. Losing weight and getting regular exercise are also recommend for treating pre-diabetes.
Prevention: Lifestyle changes can prevent pre-diabetes as well as delay the progression to full-blown type 2 diabetes. The above treatment is also recommended for prevention.
