Before individuals develop Type 2 diabetes their blood sugar levels run above normal, sometimes for years. It’s called prediabetes, and it’s a wake up call to take action and do what you can to correct the issue before it becomes fullblown diabetes.
What’s great is that if you stop the progression through healthy lifestyle changes, you can prevent diabetes from setting in. If you have a family history of diabetes, your primary care provider will likely test your glucose levels at your annual exam. Other signs of pre-diabetes include increased thirst, fatigue, frequent urination and blurred vision.
You may be at risk to develop pre-diabetes if you are overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher, you developed gestational diabetes when pregnant, you have high blood pressure, or you are older than age 45. Studies show that people who are at risk can prevent type 2 diabetes by:
Take the first step. If you suspect pre-diabetes, get a hemoglobin A1c (HgA1c) test from your doctor.
“This simple blood test shows a three-month average of your sugars,” says a physician with TMH Medical Clinic.
Your provider can read your results and you’ll be ready to start implementing a plan of action to better health on the spot.