Prediabetes is a condition that develops when the body stops producing enough insulin to process glucose, causing the sugar levels in the body to be higher than normal. Although prediabetes is likely to develop into type 2 diabetes within 10 years if left untreated, the condition can be managed and even reversed with a healthy lifestyle and diet changes.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Consuming sugar normally causes the pancreas to secrete enough insulin to convert the sugar to energy. This process stops working properly when prediabetes develops. Although doctors aren't completely sure of the exact cause of prediabetes, studies are beginning to show that certain people have a genetic predisposition to the development of prediabetes. Excess weight and abdominal fat have also been shown to increase the chances of developing diabetes. Other risk factors include advancing age, a diet high in sugars, lack of exercise, family history and lack of sleep.
If you've been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, you will want to work with your physician to develop a healthy lifestyle plan. Normally daily exercise is recommended with a goal of 30 minutes or more on most days of the week. Exercise works to maintain healthy sugar levels by causing the muscles to burn excess glucose in the bloodstream for energy. Maintaining a healthy body weight is also suggested, since recent studies have shown that losing excess weight is able to prevent and even reverse the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Excess body fat increases insulin resistance, which makes it more difficult for insulin to process sugar into energy, leading to increased blood sugar levels.
If you need to lose weight, it's important to choose a healthy plan that includes plenty of lean protein and healthy fats to keep you satisfied. You'll also want to reduce your intake of sugars, trans fats, processed foods, breads and desserts. Your doctor will most likely recommend balanced meals with a mix of protein and carbohydrates in order to stabilize insulin levels. Unless you have the help of a nutritionist or dietician, it can be difficult to put together a new eating plan to lose weight as well as maintain blood sugar levels.
A company called QualityHealth.com has developed a Free 7-Day Diabetes Meal Plan that does all the work for you. This convenient meal plan takes all the guesswork out of putting together healthy meals, snacks and even desserts for a full week. The best part about the plan is that everyone in your household will enjoy the delicious meals created using these menus! Sign up for your free meal plan today and get back on the road to good health.
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Resources:
1. Taylor, R. “Pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes: tracing the reverse route from cure to cause.” Magnetic Resonance Centre, Newcastle University, Campus for Aging and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18726585ordinalpos=183&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubme
2. Basu S, Yoffe P, Hills N, Lustig RH (2013) The Relationship of Sugar to Population-Level Diabetes Prevalence: An Econometric Analysis of Repeated Cross-Sectional Data. PLoS ONE 8(2): e57873. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057873
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