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Did You Know Prediabetes Can Be Reversed?

Date: 11/23/21

National Diabetes Month

More than 1.2 million people in Louisiana have prediabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. If not properly addressed, prediabetes can become type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes in an irreversible and lifelong disease. But it’s important to know that prediabetes itself is reversible.

How do I reverse prediabetes?

It’s important to talk with your doctor before making any serious changes. They know your health history and what changes are best suited for you. However, there are a few things you can do to reverse prediabetes and reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

First Steps to Reverse Prediabetes:

  • Make healthier food decisions. Eating less unhealthy foods as part of your diet and replacing them with healthy options is very important. This means eating more lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Healthy foods don’t have to be boring! Check out these healthy, fun recipes we made with the LSU Ag Center.
  • Increase your physical activity. There are so many ways to increase your daily physical activity. You can go on a walk or just standing up every 30 minutes. Adding a small workout or more movement into your daily routine can help you get started.
  • Manage your stress. Stress is NOT your friend, so don’t let it hang around! When you feel yourself getting stressed or overwhelmed, practice mindfulness or focus on your breathing. Mindfulness is like meditating. It helps you focus on the moment and what you can see, hear, and feel.

Remember: Results take time but every change you make helps you become healthier in the long run!

More about Prediabetes:

According to the CDC, prediabetes is caused when your body doesn’t respond normally to insulin. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas. It acts like a key to let blood sugar into your cells so it can be transformed into energy. When you have prediabetes, your insulin is unable to do what it needs to do to keep you healthy.

Prediabetes also puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Important: You can have prediabetes for years and have no clear symptoms. For that reason, prediabetes often goes undetected until serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes show up. It’s important to talk to your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested if you have any of these risk factors for prediabetes:

  • Are overweight
  • Are 45 years or older
  • Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
  • Are physically active less than 3 times a week
  • Have ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or given birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
  • Are African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, or Alaska Native

If you are worried that you may have prediabetes, schedule an appointment with your doctor to know for sure. They will determine if you have prediabetes by using a blood test. If you need a ride to your doctor’s appointment, we’ll pick you up! To schedule your ride call 1-855-369-3723, Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or set it up online. Remember to schedule two days ahead of your appointment.

Want to learn more about prediabetes? Visit https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/prediabetes.html.