Prediabetes

Prediabetes is on the rise in people of all shapes, sizes, and ages (even younger ages!). Could you be one of the 54 million people estimated to have prediabetes in our country?

The symptoms of prediabetes are often unclear, so you may not know if you have it. Prediabetes means that you have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

The cause of prediabetes, or insulin resistance, is different for every individual. There are factors that increase your chances, including hormone imbalances, increased stress, nicotine, caffeine or alcohol abuse, exposure to toxins (like heavy metals), excessive dieting, storing more fat around the waist than the hips, and inactivity.

Some warning signs for prediabetes are:

• Increased thirst

• Increased urination

• Tiredness

• Blurry vision

• Sores and cuts that won’t heal

But there is good news: Prediabetes is reversible. By getting help from our nutritionists, you can reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, research shows that you can reduce your risk by 58 percent with sustained modest weight loss (at least 7 percent of your body weight) and increased moderate-intensity physical activity (such as walking 30 minutes per day). Our dietitians will show you how you can continue to eat foods that you like in moderate amounts. Our Metabolic Testing will also show us signs if your body is not breaking down carbohydrates efficiently. This allows treatment to begin at an earlier stage. If so, we will recommend personalized lab testing to give you the information you need to create a sustainable action plan.