How Can I Tell if I Have Pre-Diabetes?
Unless you are living under a rock by now you have heard about the staggering number of people that are being diagnosed with diabetes. You can look up tons of statistics showing how this is the biggest epidemic the world has seen since the Black Death.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU?
Everyone, despite their weight, should be checked by their doctor for pre-diabetes. Why? Because pre-diabetes have hardly any symptoms that you’d recognize without a blood glucose meter. Ask your doctor for an HbA1c test during your next visit.
“Pre-diabetes means that your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be type 2 diabetes. Without lifestyle changes, people with pre-diabetes are very likely to progress to type 2 diabetes. If you have pre-diabetes, the long-term damage of diabetes — especially to your heart, blood vessels and kidneys — may already be starting.”
YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN FUTURE.
Even if type 2 diabetes “runs in your family” that does not mean type 2 diabetes has to be in your future.
Being diagnosed with pre-diabetes is not a life sentence, just the opposite! It’s your opportunity to choose a different lifestyle and future to avoid type 2 diabetes.
But you have to start with knowledge and understanding of the lifestyle choices that brought you to this point and get the support and guidance to lead you down a different path.
Health Coaches are a great resource to add to your existing health care support system. A Health Coach has the time to support you to make long-lasting, healthy lifestyle changes. They can work in tandem with your health care provider to provide you with the best support possible.
A large, multicenter research study called the Diabetes Prevention Program looked into how lifestyle changes could help prevent diabetes. What they found should give people at risk of diabetes a lot of hope.
With modest weight loss and exercise, study participants reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent over three years.
The power of healthy food and exercise habits can’t be overstated. Take charge of your health by focusing on simple dietary and lifestyle changes. - Health Line
Here is a great article with more information on how to find a Health Coach.
Other great resources and articles to check out:
DiabetesSchweiz (Deutsch)
Mayo Clinic (English)
Health Line (English)
