Prediabetes

Prediabetes, sometimes referred to as borderline diabetes… it sounds like yet another lifestyle ailment to be worried about, right? Unfortunately, it is another important health concern to add to your radar because 2 in 3 South Africans have prediabetes, according to a survey conducted by SA Demographic Health Survey. Meaning that two of the three people you see (including yourself!) could have prediabetes.The good news is that if you have prediabetes, simple lifestyle changes can normalise your blood sugar levels, therefore reducing or delaying your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. “Prediabetes can also mean that you’re at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The tricky part is that prediabetes has no symptoms, so you’d have to get into the habit of getting your blood sugar checked,” says GP Dr Yanga Madlala. Let’s get right into it…READ MORE: 9 Useful Self-Care Apps For Wellness To Download NowWhat Is Prediabetes?In medical terms, prediabetes occurs when blood sugar (also known as blood glucose) is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers fasting blood glucose levels of below 6mmol/l to be normal. Above 7mmol/l fasting glucose (when you haven’t eaten anything) will need further checks but may indicate diabetes. Between these two cutoff points lies the prediabetes range: 6 to 7mmol/l. “The medical terms for higher-than-normal blood sugars are impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired glucose regulation (IGR) or non-diabetic hyperglycaemia,” explains Dr Madlala. How Do I Test For Prediabetes?If you’re worried about prediabetes, seek medical intervention and insist on a blood test. “The most common test will be checking your HbA1c levels, which are your average blood sugar levels for the last two to three months. If your HbA1c level is between 42mmol/mol (6%) to 47mmol/mol (6.4%), this means it is higher than normal and you are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes,” shares Dr Madlala.Are There Any Symptoms I Should Be Looking Out For?Sadly, prediabetes has no symptoms. If you start experiencing symptoms such as peeing more often (especially at night), drastic and unintended weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, cuts and wounds taking longer to heal, genital itching or thrush, extreme thirst, chances are you’ve already developed Type 2 diabetes. “Always listen to your body and monitor it closely for any new changes. Know the risk factors as well as the support is available that could help you prevent or delay type 2 diabetes,” says Dr Madlala.READ MORE: It’s Possible To Reverse Type 2 Diabetes, According To One Woman Who Did It How To Turn Prediabetes AroundPrediabetes requires a complete lifestyle overhaul – no negotiations there! “Consistent lifestyle changes can potentially reverse prediabetes or even delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. These changes focus on healthy eating, regular physical activity and weight management,” says Dr Madlala.Eat healthy foodSpecifically green, leafy vegetables. We should all be eating half a plate of green, leafy vegetables for lunch and dinner. Are you doing this? It’s a simple but powerful change!Exercise a little each dayIt doesn’t have to be complicated. A half-hour walk around the block will do, or some squats and stretches in your lounge if walking around the block isn’t an option.Lose weight if you need toBeing overweight is a significant risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes, because it can make you more insulin resistant. If you can drink water instead of fizzy drinks or juice, and make the other two changes above (half a plate of green, leafy vegetables and daily exercise), you’ll be well on your way to losing weight.READ MORE: Everything You Need To Know About Type 1 Diabetes More