If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, it’s important to take action to prevent the condition from progressing to diabetes. Prediabetes is a precursor condition in which your blood sugar readings are elevated but not high enough to lead to a diagnosis of diabetes, in this case, lifestyle-related Type 2 diabetes. The good news is that, with lifestyle changes or medication, prediabetes can often be reversed. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what to do after being diagnosed with prediabetes.

Understand Prediabetes

The first step is to understand what prediabetes is and what it means for your health. While this is a scary diagnosis, monitoring your sugar levels to stay on top of prediabetes is easier than ever thanks to Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices. Technology like the CGM is growing in popularity because it is relatively non-invasive, easy to use, and provides more data than even traditional tests. 

Getting advice from your doctor is an important step after being diagnosed with prediabetes, as they can provide you with more information about your condition and help you understand your risk factors. They may also perform additional tests to check for any complications associated with prediabetes. It’s important that you are honest with your doctor about your lifestyle and any symptoms you may be experiencing, as this kind of information will help them create a personalized treatment plan. Your doctor may also recommend that you see a dietitian or other healthcare professional who can help you plan for a healthier future.

Make Lifestyle Changes

Making lifestyle changes is an essential step in managing prediabetes. Losing weight is particularly important if you are overweight, as even losing around 6% of your body weight can help lower your blood sugar levels. Engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes most days of the week can also help improve your blood sugar control and lower your risk of heart disease. Eating a healthy diet that is high in fiber, whole grains, and lean protein, and low in saturated fat and added sugars is also crucial. Lastly, quitting smoking can significantly improve your blood sugar control and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Take Medication

In some cases, doctors may also recommend medication to help manage your prediabetes, with the two most commonly prescribed medications for prediabetes being metformin and acarbose. 

Metformin is a medication that helps reduce the amount of glucose produced by the liver and increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin, while Acarbose is a medication that slows down the digestion of carbohydrates, thereby helping to prevent spikes in your blood sugar after meals. 

Your doctor will prescribe the medication that is best for you based on your individual needs and medical history. It’s important to note that medication is not a substitute for lifestyle changes. Even if you are taking medication to manage your prediabetes, it’s still important to make the necessary changes in your lifestyle so you have a chance to live your best life.

Schedule Regular Follow-Ups with Your Doctor

It’s important to follow up with your doctor regularly to monitor your prediabetes and to make adjustments to your treatment plan as needed. Your doctor may also recommend that you have regular blood tests to monitor your blood sugar levels and to check for any complications.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects countless lives across the globe, so making every effort you can to prevent a diagnosis of prediabetes being upgraded to Type 2 diabetes should be your main priority should you be diagnosed by a doctor. By following some of the steps outlined above and being proactive, there is a reasonable chance you can turn your health around, so get started today.