Prediabetes Symptoms – All You Need to Know
Prediabetes is a big deal! Don’t let the ‘pre’ in prediabetes fool you — it’s a condition you should take seriously.
Why? Because prediabetes is an ailment where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. And without lifestyle and diet changes, prediabetes could progress to type 2 diabetes mellitus.
There’s good news, the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes can be stopped.
Eating healthy, making exercising a priority and staying at a healthy weight can help bring your blood sugar level back to normal.
As you can see, recognising that you have prediabetes is the first step. Here’s what you need to know.
Symptoms of Prediabetes
While clinically, prediabetes doesn’t usually have any signs or symptoms, there are a few possible signs that you can catch on to. Here are some of the common ones:
- Darkened skin on certain parts of the body, such as the neck, armpits, elbows, knees and knuckles.
- Feeling increasingly thirsty
- Frequent urination
- Excess hunger
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
When should you see a doctor
You should see your doctor and ask questions about type 2 diabetes if you have a family history of diabetes, are overweight, or see any of the above symptoms. You can also ask your doctor about blood sugar screening if you have any risk factors for diabetes.
Causes of prediabetes
The exact cause of prediabetes is unknown. But, what’s clear is that people with prediabetes don’t process sugar (glucose) properly. As a result of which, sugar builds up in your blood instead of acting as a source of energy to cells of your muscles and other tissues.
That being said, the following factors could be a cause for prediabetes:
- Family history plays an important role.
- Lack of regular physical activity
- Being overweight
- Having excess fat around your abdomen
Risk factors
The same factors that increase your odds of getting type 2 diabetes also increase your risk of prediabetes. They include:
- Your weight: Being overweight is a primary risk factor for prediabetes. The more fatty tissue you have, especially around your abdomen, the greater your risk of prediabetes.
- Waist size: Your waist size (greater the waist size, the more the risk) can indicate insulin resistance. As per studies, in men, a waist size greater than 40 inches and in women, a waist size greater than 35 inches increases your risk of prediabetes.
- What you eat: Eating red and processed meat, and drinking sugar-sweetened beverages, increases your risk of being diagnosed with prediabetes.
- Being inactive: The less physically active you are, the greater your risk of prediabetes.
- Your age: Although diabetes can develop at any age, the risk of prediabetes increases after the age of 45.
- Family history: Your risk of prediabetes increases if you have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes (GDM) or Pregnancy Diabetes: If you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during your pregnancy, you’re at a higher risk of being diagnosed with prediabetes.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome: Women with PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome are also at a higher risk of being diagnosed with prediabetes.
- Sleep troubles: If you suffer from sleep apnoea (a condition where sleep is disrupted repeatedly due to breathing problems), you have a higher risk of prediabetes.
- Smoking: If you’re a smoker, you’re likely to have increased insulin resistance.
We know that being diagnosed with prediabetes can be scary and worrisome. But, the first line of treatment for prediabetes is lifestyle management, which consists of a treatment plan that with a focus on nutrition, physical activity, sleep and stress management. If, when followed, your blood sugar levles are maintained, your doctor may not prescribe medications. But, irrespective of whether your doctor puts you on medications or not, a healthy lifestyle is safer and a better fix in the long term.
While, it can be daunting to be diagnosed with prediabetes, but the first thing to remember is that the condition requires a holistic approach. The approach should be a holistic one that is scientific, personalised and managed by experts. That’s where we come in. The Diabefly Pro program will help you navigate all the pitfalls and see results. Diabefly Pro is India’s only prediabetes management program.
The Diabefly Pro, has seen true results and you can to. With a scientific approach, Diabefly Pro can help you lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 58% and 71% if you’re over the age of 60)
If that’s not all, here’s a little bit more about the program: Diabefly Pro is a 3-month, digital prediabetes management program that’s created and run by experts. In this program you’ll have acess to a panel of experts including your Diabefly Coach who’ll be your buddy in your journey to better health. Your nutritionist, physiotherapist and phycologist will help you through the journey, making your treatment a holistic one.
To know more about how Diabefly Pro can help you with your prediabetes, visit www.fitterfly.com/prediabetes or talk to us at +91 22 4897 1077 today.
This blog provides general information for educational and informational purposes only and shouldn't be seen as professional advice.
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