How to Prevent Your Prediabetes From Turning Into Full-Blown Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes affects more than 30 million Americans, while prediabetes impacts another 88 million. In most cases, type 2 diabetes develops over the course of many years, which gives you a chance to take action when you identify an issue early. If you have prediabetes you can take steps to do something about it before it progresses to Type 2 diabetes.
Board-certified internal medicine physician, Jean Ann Beaton, MD, and the team at Dupont Private Health want patients to feel empowered to take proactive steps toward improving and protecting their health. The enhancements of her concierge program, like extended visits, same and next-day appointments and 24/7 connectivity to Dr. Beaton gives Member patients the flexibility and convenience they need to discuss any and all health concerns in a comfortable and relaxed environment. As such, Dr. Beaton is able to provide top-quality care in helping patients manage diabetes and encourages patients who don’t have diabetes but have elevated blood sugar to take prompt action to cut your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
We’ve put together some of the best steps you can take right now.
Know what you’re up against
A diagnosis of prediabetes means your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. It’s called prediabetes because without intervention, this stage of elevated blood sugar often progresses to type 2 diabetes.
Fortunately, if you have prediabetes, there are lifestyle changes you can make to prevent Type 2 diabetes, which increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, and serious health issues.
Who is more likely to have prediabetes?
Obesity, inactivity, and poor diet are the major risk factors for prediabetes. Over 90% of people who develop Type 2 diabetes are overweight and obese, and at the time of diagnosis most report getting very little physical activity and having unhealthy eating habits. Focusing on improving these key areas gives you the strongest chance of slashing your risk of going on to develop Type 2 diabetes.
Trim the excess body weight
If you have prediabetes, losing even a modest 5% of your body weight dramatically cuts your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. That’s just 10 pounds for a 200-pound person. Losing weight isn’t easy but it can save your life. At Dupont Private Health we offer individualized weight loss plans supervised by Dr. Beaton.
Our medical weight loss plans provide you with the tools, guidance, and support you need to lose weight and feel good while you do it. Your personalized medical weight loss plan may include meal plans, nutrition education and chronic disease management.
Get your body moving
Don’t underestimate the power of exercise in protecting against Type 2 diabetes. Exercise lowers glucose levels and can improve insulin sensitivity. Insulin is your body’s blood sugar-regulating hormone. In people with high blood sugar, the body’s cells are less sensitive to the effects of insulin, causing blood sugar to rise.
When you exercise, the body takes up excess glucose from the bloodstream to use as fuel for your muscles. This lowers blood sugar and promotes better blood sugar balance. Because getting plenty of physical activity improves insulin sensitivity, the amount of insulin necessary to lower blood sugar declines.
Our team can help you learn how to add more physical activity to your lifestyle, and create an individualized workout plan that best suits your needs, interests, and preferences.
Overhaul your eating habits
Specific dietary strategies can go a long way in improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar, along with reducing the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. We offer nutritional management and nutrition education to help you know which foods are best for reaching your goals.
After reviewing your current dietary habits, and considering your other health conditions, such as high blood pressure, we can create a nutritionally balanced plan to combat high blood sugar.
The help you need to combat high blood sugar
Visiting a wellness specialist is the best step you can take toward improved health. Whether you have prediabetes or are concerned about another aspect of your health, we can help. To get started, call our Washington, DC office or book online to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Beaton. We’re dedicated to helping you live a long, healthy life.
