Navigating Prediabetes: Early Action for a Healthier Future

We all know what diabetes is, right?

But diabetes doesn’t come overnight like a fever. It’s a lifestyle disorder that progresses due to multiple factors. However, before being diabetic, have you ever wondered about its early progressive stage?

That’s Pre-diabetes, a condition where your blood sugar levels are higher than they should be but not quite high enough to be called diabetes just yet. It’s like a warning sign from your body, telling you, “Hey, things aren’t going as smoothly as they should.”

If we ignore this warning sign and make some changes, it could lead to full-blown diabetes later on!!

What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes, also known as borderline diabetes, is the initial stage where individuals begin to show a rise in blood sugar. During this stage, patients typically have an HbA1c reading between 5.7 and 6.4 and fasting blood sugar levels ranging from 100 to 126. 

Concerns and Progression 

While the visible impacts of diabetes may not be apparent at this stage, it’s essential to take it seriously. In India, about 15% to 20% of people with prediabetes progress to diabetes annually, which is higher than in most other countries.

This progression can lead to severe complications and increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health issues. If left unchecked, it is estimated that over 70% of people with prediabetes will develop diabetes within the next 7-10 years.

Recent reports indicate that 135 million people in India have prediabetes, so the potential impact on diabetes numbers is alarming.

Managing Prediabetes

1) Identifying Hidden Signs

Conventional measurements like fasting blood sugar and HbA1c tests may miss a significant sign of prediabetes – the day-to-day sugar level variability.

Prediabetes patients often experience fluctuations in sugar levels, with highs exceeding the baseline by more than 60 points and lows dropping 20 points below it.

Unhealthy lifestyle habits and poor food choices can cause these spikes, which many patients may be unaware of, leading to progression to diabetes.

Unfortunately, patients are often unaware of this issue and without intervention, they progress to diabetes. 

2) Fitterfly’s Diabetes Care Programme 

At Fitterfly, we have developed a Digital Therapeutics program based on Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices. Our Diabetes Care Programme closely monitors the impact of food consumption, lifestyle habits, sleep patterns, and stress levels on blood sugars.

Each individual’s blood sugar response to the same food can vary, which we term “Personalised Glycemic Response” (PGR) and utilize it for prediabetes therapy.

Our interventions go beyond medication, addressing various causes of prediabetes, such as insufficient physical activity, unhealthy food choices, BMI over 25, and high-stress levels.

By focusing on these factors, we effectively manage prediabetes and encourage behavioral changes that improve quality of life and reduce diabetes risk.

3) Lifestyle Interventions 

We strongly recommend regular annual screenings to detect prediabetes early and take prompt action. Adopting nutritious foods with low sugar content, engaging in regular exercise, prioritizing sufficient sleep and hydration, and managing stress through mindfulness or therapy when necessary are vital steps in preventing the progression to diabetes.

These elements are seamlessly integrated into our program to assist individuals in making transformative lifestyle changes.

Also, since the Lancet study showed that some states have a huge problem, what can be the policy lessons for them?

Policy Lessons for High-Variability States

1) Understanding Regional Variability 

The variation observed in diabetes prevalence in different regions is a matter of concern but not entirely unexpected. Lifestyle choices and family health history play significant roles in diabetes development. However, prediabetes presents a better stage for intervention in India’s fight against diabetes.

2) The Role of Digital Therapeutics (DTx)

To tackle this challenge effectively, it is crucial to establish a strong network of lifestyle clinics and use technology-driven solutions for fighting against prediabetes. Digital therapeutic programs can fill this gap and make lifestyle interventions accessible and meaningful in regions with high variability.

By leveraging CGM devices to gather individual data, personalized dietary modifications, and behavior change recommendations can be provided, leading to tailored therapies.

Modern DTx platforms like Fitterfly simplify the process of collecting data and implementing data-driven recommendations through integrated smartphone apps, enabling users to track their health status and make gradual improvements.

Through DTx, we have observed significant reductions in HbA1c levels of up to 0.44 points for people with prediabetes leading to reversal of prediabetes in a majority of them. This reduction is substantial and can stop the progression of diabetes and aid prediabetes patients in lowering the risks of heart attacks and other ailments.

Even if we can implement such solutions at scale and reverse prediabetes in 25% of the population, it will cut down diabetes incidence by 20% in the next 7-10 years. 

Implementing these measures not only enhances the overall quality of life but also reduces healthcare expenses by ensuring individuals maintain better health, improved life quality, and increased productivity. 

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Conclusion

Prediabetes is a critical stage that requires attention and action. Understanding the significance of prediabetes and embracing appropriate interventions can lead to a healthier population, reducing the burden of diabetes on individuals and the healthcare system.

By taking advantage of digital therapeutics and making lifestyle changes, we can make great strides in preventing the progression from prediabetes to diabetes, ultimately improving the well-being of millions.

Key Takeaways

1. Prediabetes is an early stage where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet classified as diabetes.
2. Without proper intervention, about 15% to 20% of people with prediabetes progress to diabetes annually in India, at a higher rate than in most other countries.
3. Prediabetes can lead to severe complications and increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health issues if left untreated.
4. Personalized Glycemic Response (PGR) plays a crucial role in prediabetes therapy, considering the variation in blood sugar rise among individuals for the same food.
5. Fitterfly’s Diabetes Care Programme utilizes Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices and takes a holistic approach to managing prediabetes, addressing lifestyle habits, food choices, stress levels, and more.
6. Regular annual screenings and lifestyle changes, including nutritious diets, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and stress reduction, are essential for preventing prediabetes progression.
7. Digital Therapeutics (DTx) programs, like Fitterfly, can effectively address regional variability in diabetes prevalence and provide personalized interventions.
8. Implementing lifestyle changes and using DTx solutions can lead to significant reductions in HbA1c levels, reversing prediabetes in many cases and reducing the incidence of diabetes.

We at Fitterfly To know more about our program, give a missed call on 08069450746 or know more about our Clinically-proven Diabetes Care Prime Program

**Diabetes Remission is the clinical term for Diabetes Reversal.