Have you been recently diagnosed with prediabetes? If so, you may be wondering how serious it is and what you should do about it.
Prediabetes is a serious condition, as it's basically a warning sign you are headed towards developing full-blown Type 2 diabetes.
Here's why prediabetes is a problem, and what you can do about it...
Diabetes doesn't develop all of a sudden.
It usually starts as insulin resistance.
Over time, your body doesn't respond so well to insulin, so blood sugar rises out of a healthy range.
Then the pancreas works harder to produce more insulin to try to combat your high blood sugar levels.
Eventually the cells of your pancreas can become worn out and stop working efficiently - then your body doesn't produce the amount of insulin your body needs.
If you're diagnosed with prediabetes, it means your blood sugar levels are too high but not high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes.
So prediabetes means...

• either your body isn't responding well to insulin, or
• isn't producing enough insulin,
• or both.
  

If nothing is done to change the insulin production or response in your body, less insulin will be produced and Type 2 diabetes will develop.
People who develop Type 2 diabetes almost always have prediabetes present first, so if you have prediabetes you're likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.
But it's still possible to avoid developing this disease and the complications that come with it.
The biggest changes you can make to your life to help prevent full-blown Type 2 diabetes developing are...

• start to exercise and
• lose weight.
  

Being overweight is the main risk factor - when you gain weight, the extra weight is stored in the body as fat.
This fat can build up in the pancreas and clog it.
In some people, this causes diabetes - the fat particles make it so the pancreas can't produce enough insulin.
Losing weight can help get the pancreas functioning well again.
And losing even five to ten pounds at first can help lower your blood sugar levels.
Besides helping you lose weight, exercise helps your body become more sensitive to insulin.
And during exercise, your body can use glucose for energy even without insulin.
Aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week spread out over about five days.
Talk to your doctor before you get started if you aren't used to doing any physical activities.
And nutrition is important, too.
Try to limit how many simple sugars and processed foods you take in.
With some work, you can get your blood sugar back to normal levels and not be at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.