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    Jan 26
    Blog: Prediabetes

    When your primary care provider tells you that your blood sugars are a little high but not enough to diagnose diabetes, don’t sigh of relief just yet. Prediabetes is like the 15-minute warning on a timed test, indicating you have to buckle down and give your diet and exercise routine serious attention. It not only puts you at risk for type 2 diabetes, but also for heart disease and stroke. Full diabetes can lead to kidney failure, blindness, and even amputation of a toe, foot, or leg.prediabetes

    More than 34 million Americans have diabetes (about 1 in 10), and approximately 90-95% of them have type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Although it commonly affects people over age 45, there are an alarming number of young people being diagnosed. In the U.S., about 84 million people over age 20 have prediabetes, and as many as 90% don’t even know it.
     
    You don’t have to be one of them. Type 2 diabetes is usually preventable. Here are some tips to help you. 
     
    First, know your risk level. The American Diabetes Association says you’re more likely to get prediabetes if you:

    • Are over 45
    • Are African American, Native American, Latino, or Pacific Islander
    • Are overweight  
    • Have high cholesterol, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and high LDL cholesterol
    • Are physically inactive
    • Had diabetes during pregnancy
    • Have polycystic ovary syndrome 


    This is not an all-encompassing list. Family history, depression, sleep problems, working swing or night shifts can all contribute to your risk. Eat red and processed meats? Drink sugary beverages? Don’t eat enough fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil? Those put you at higher risk, too. 

    Next, know the warning signs of diabetes. Types 1 and 2 diabetes have the same signs, but with type 2, the symptoms are not really noticeable for a long time. By the time you do, it’s often too late—the damage has already begun. Let your doctor know if you experience the following: 

    • Hunger and fatigue.  
    • Increase in thirst. 
    • Increase in urination frequency. 
    • Dry mouth and itchy skin. 
    • Blurred vision.  

     
    Last, but definitely not least, know the steps you can take to slow or reverse the progression of prediabetes to diabetes. If this list looks familiar, it’s because it works, not just to prevent diabetes, but to prevent a whole host of potential health problems: 

    • Lose weight. 
    • Follow a healthy diet. 
    • Get regular exercise.
    • Don’t smoke. 
    • Talk with your healthcare provider.


    Saratoga Hospital Medical Group – Endocrinology & Diabetes can help. We offer our patients an outstanding team of board-certified physicians, employing the most up-to-date equipment and advanced diagnostic techniques. Physicians work hand-in-hand with our expert advanced nurse practitioner (ANP), physician assistants (PAs), registered dietitians (RDs), and certified diabetes educators (CDEs) to provide the personal, compassionate care that you deserve. We have two convenient locations: Wilton and Malta