Keeping Prediabetes from turning into Diabetes:

Keeping Prediabetes from turning into Diabetes

133, Diet & Nutrition, Medical Conditions, Men's Health, The Human Body, Women's Health

Ever hear of prediabetes? As you can imagine, it’s a condition that precedes diabetes. While having prediabetes doesn’t guarantee that you’ll become a diabetic, you can take steps to improve your odds of staying diabetes-free.

A Big Problem

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 100 million Americans are either prediabetic or diabetic. Though it might sound strange, the vast majority of those living with prediabetes – some 90 percent – have no idea that they have this condition.

In terms of symptoms, prediabetes perfectly mimics type 2 diabetes, causing such issues as significant declines in weight, dry mouth, fatigue, frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger. While it may seem that prediabetes might signal the onset of type 2 diabetes, this is often not the case. For example, one study of over 900 adults with prediabetes found that on 13 percent became diabetic after a twelve year period.

Eating Smart

Regardless, prediabetes is not something to take lightly. Listed below are a few tips that could prove useful in preserving your long-term health.

Avoid High GI Foods: Ever hear of the glycemic index (GI)? In a nutshell, the glycemic index rates the speed at which foods cause blood glucose levels to rise. A low GI score indicates a slow increase, while a high score means relatively quick rise in glucose levels. Those with prediabetes should try to avoid high GI foods in favor of low GI offerings.

Cut Down on Carbs: Lots of people love to scarf down foods like bread, pasta and other carbohydrate-rich items. Unfortunately, these products can cause blood sugar (glucose) levels to rise at a fairly quick clip, something that could be easily be harmful to those at risk of diabetes.

The Problem of Processed Foods: What do candy bars, cookies, potato chips, cereals and bread all have in common? They all qualify as processed foods, meaning that they have undergone either mechanical or chemical processes in order to preserve their quality. As good as they might taste, they aren’t especially good for prediabetics.