At least twice a week I receive phone calls from potential clients with “pre-diabetes”. The conversation usually goes one of two ways. Scenario #1: ”My doctor called and told me I have borderline diabetes. He told me to call you so that I could start on a diet to lose weight and get my blood sugars under control. I”m scared! What can I do?”. Scenario #2: “My doctor and wife made me call you because my blood sugar was a little high. I don’t have diabetes yet, so I’m not sure that I need to see you. They made me call. No rush.” I’ve been a Certified Diabetes Educator for over 15 years and I still feel the deep angst when a person with pre-diabetes contacts me who is not yet willing to make appropriate diet and exercise modifications. Pre-diabetes is an easier condition to treat than Type 2 diabetes. So early detection and treatment is essential to prevent complications.
Pre-Diabetes should not be taken lightly! It’s now estimated that 57 million Americans have pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is actually “Pre-Type 2 Diabetes”. If it is not properly treated, it has the potential to progress to Type 2 diabetes. If your fasting blood sugar (after 8 hours of not eating, usually overnight) is between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl then you have pre-diabetes. A fasting blood sugar of 126 mg/dl puts you in the Type 2 diabetes category. Remember that pre-diabetes has nothing to do with Type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disorder. (We must continue to support research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes). Brett Michaels and Nick Jonas are examples of people who have Type 1 diabetes.
According to Dr. Gary Trager, the director of the Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology and Metabolism in Huntington New York, “The risk of heart attack and stroke triples to quadruples when you have the diagnosis of pre-diabetes”. Pre-diabetes can also increase the risk of retinopathy and neuropathy. Many people are walking around undiagnosed with pre-diabetes (as there are often no overt symptoms). In a recent study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, about half of those diagnosed with pre-diabetes don’t even try to lose weight or alter their lifestyle habits. I suppose either people are scared and want to prevent Type 2 diabetes, or they are not motivated to change their diet and physical activity habits until they actually develop full blown diabetes! Anywhere from 33%-70% of people who have pre-diabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes. Since it is much easier to control than Type 2, I continue to reach out to those with pre-diabetes in order to help them properly manage their blood sugars.
A study called the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) found that losing 5-7 % of body weight (by reducing caloric intake and increasing physical exercise) can prevent (or substantially delay) Type 2 diabetes from developing. Carrying weight in your belly is very dangerous, and can significantly impact your blood sugar levels. People who are “apple shaped” are at high risk for being insulin resistant. A woman with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches is at high risk for developing blood sugar problems. And a man with a waist circumference of more than 40 inches is in the high risk category.
Don’t delay! Get started today! If your not sure how to manage your carbohydrate and calorie intake, contact a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator to develop a meal plan that will fit into your lifestyle and control your blood sugars. Start moving! Exercise is a key component to blood sugar management. Talk to your doctor about possible blood glucose monitoring and medications changes. Do whatever you can to prevent pre-diabetes from developing into Type 2 diabetes.
Make a small change
My husband, who is overweight, but not a diabetic, has some very bad habits (never eating breakfast, drinking too much coffee, filling up on junk food after dinner). One day he asked me to make him a lunch each day for work. So I’ve been making the same lunch for 4 years – salad greens and either turkey or cold grilled chicken with thousand island dressing. Just this one change has resulted in his losing 70 lbs (over 2 years – it was slow, but is staying off!).