“Prediabetes is a major burden here in America,” says Omotayo Akinmade, M.D., a family medicine physician at Piedmont.
Thirty million Americans have diabetes, but a whopping 90 million have prediabetes. Studies have shown prediabetes can become full-blown diabetes in just three to five years if steps aren’t taken to reverse it.
Dr. Akinmade shares six things every person should know about prediabetes:
1. There is a difference between diabetes and prediabetes
Prediabetes means a person’s blood sugar is higher than the normal range (70 to 100) but still below the diabetic range (126 and higher). A fasting blood glucose level of 100 to 125 indicates prediabetes.
2. Family history can impact your risk
There is a significant genetic component to diabetes, meaning a family history may increase your chances of developing the disease.
3. There are things you can do to prevent diabetes
Just because your parent or grandparent has diabetes doesn’t mean you’re destined for a life of pills and injections, especially if you consistently make good choices about what you eat and drink, and how often you exercise.
“The things you do every day have an impact,” Dr. Akinmade says.
4. Losing weight can significantly lower your risk
Diabetics have a resistance to insulin, which regulates blood glucose levels. The more sensitive your body is to insulin, the better it is able to regulate blood glucose. Being obese reduces your insulin sensitivity.
Losing weight if you are overweight or obese is one of the best things you can do to reverse prediabetes.
5. Exercise can also cut your risk
Dr. Akinmade recommends people with prediabetes:
6. Prediabetes is reversible
“There’s good news because numerous studies have shown [type 2] diabetes is totally preventable,” Dr. Akinmade says. “It can be mitigated to a large extent by your daily choices: what you eat, how often you exercise and by maintaining healthy habits.”
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Akinmade or one of our other primary care providers. Save time, book online.