Blood glucose, commonly referred to as blood sugar, is a substance in your blood that helps fuel your body as it travels throughout your circulatory system. Too much blood glucose can lead to prediabetes, which can then become type 2 diabetes and lead to worse complications over time.
If you live in the Beverly Hills, California, area and you’re struggling with the signs of prediabetes, Dr. Shawn Veiseh and his dedicated staff at Shawn Veiseh, M.D. can help you keep prediabetes from becoming a bigger problem, but there are several things you can do to keep your blood sugar levels under control.
To explore what you can do to avert the complications of this condition, let’s examine what prediabetes is, what causes and signs you need to watch for, and what you can do to reverse its effects.
To regulate the amount of blood glucose in your body, your pancreas releases insulin when you eat to help convert sugar into an energy source for your body. This is how insulin helps lower your blood sugar level. If you have too much blood glucose in your bloodstream or your body is unable to process it properly, the excess sugar levels result in prediabetes.
If this condition isn’t treated, it can lead to type 2 diabetes and many other complications like metabolic syndrome, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, and kidney, nerve, and eye damage.
Problems such as insulin resistance and insulin metabolic resistance cause prediabetes. This can be the result of numerous factors, such as being overweight, improper diet, a sedentary lifestyle (excess inactivity), family history, and tobacco use.
Prediabetes doesn’t have clear symptoms, though some people may experience a sign of insulin resistance called acanthosis nigricans which causes thick, dark, velvety folds and creases in your skin.
If you receive a diagnosis of prediabetes and you start experiencing symptoms like increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and nonhealing sores and cuts, your condition is likely progressing into type 2 diabetes.
Here are some things you can do to help reverse the effects of prediabetes and prevent the condition from progressing:
Problems with blood glucose levels often result from foods and drinks like red meat, processed foods, saturated fats, excess carbohydrates, and foods high in sugar. Focusing more on a diet of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help you get your blood sugar under control.
Weight loss is a big part of controlling your blood sugar, and losing just 5-10% of your body fat can do a great deal to reduce your blood sugar levels.
Routine exercise makes a world of difference in reducing the effects of prediabetes. Activities like walking, running, cycling, and swimming for 150 minutes a week can help keep your weight down and boost your metabolism.
Smoking and other uses of tobacco products increase your chances of getting diabetes (up to 40%) as well as other complications. Stop smoking to reduce your likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
Stress can affect your health in a multitude of ways including your weight and metabolism, and reducing stress through yoga, meditation, and other methods can help reduce your blood sugar.
Getting through the lifestyle changes can be difficult, and having the support of your friends, family, and support groups can help you better manage and enjoy life without prediabetes.
Work with your doctor to formulate a plan to reverse your condition and stick to it. Prediabetes is a preventable condition and one you can be rid of, so make a plan and use it to control your blood sugar and get your life back.
Prediabetes is treatable and reversible, and we can help. Make an appointment with Dr. Veiseh and his team today to get started. Call our office or schedule a visit online.
