Treatment FAQ

what is treatment for pre-diabetes

by Samara Dibbert Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Medication

  • Being overweight
  • Being 45 years or older
  • Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
  • Being physically active less than 3 times a week
  • Ever having gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds

Self-care

Ways to potentially reverse prediabetes

  • Changing diet. Changing eating habits is a step that may help reverse prediabetes. ...
  • Eating fewer carbs. Other people with prediabetes may choose a low-carbohydrate eating plan. ...
  • Getting adequate sleep and treating sleep apnea. ...
  • Exercising. ...
  • Losing excess weight. ...
  • Stop smoking. ...
  • Maintaining hydration. ...
  • Avoiding alcohol. ...
  • Reducing stress. ...
  • Working with a nutritionist. ...

Nutrition

  • Improve Your Diet to Help You Treat Diabetes Naturally.
  • Lose Weight — Especially Belly Fat — to Help Lower Glucose Levels.
  • Exercise Regularly as Part of Your Diabetes Treatment Plan.
  • Control Sleep Apnea to Help Manage Blood Sugar Spikes and Dips.

See more

Treatments for Type 2 diabetes include:

  • Metformin
  • Sulfonylureas
  • Meglitinides
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • DPP-4 inhibitors
  • GLP-1 receptor agonists
  • SGLT2 inhibitors
  • Insulin.

What is the best medicine for prediabetes?

How to reverse prediabetes naturally?

How to cure diabetes naturally without medication?

What is the best medication for diabetes?

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What is the best treatment for pre diabetes?

Take these steps to treat prediabetes:Eat a healthy diet and lose weight. Losing 5% to 10% of your weight can make a huge difference.Exercise. ... Stop smoking.Get your blood pressure and cholesterol under control.Take medication like metformin (Glucophage) to lower your blood sugar if you're at high risk of diabetes.

Can pre diabetes be treated?

Prediabetes is reversible. You can prevent or slow the development of prediabetes and diabetes by making lifestyle changes and maintaining a moderate weight. According to one 2017 review, each 2.2 pounds of weight loss could lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by 16 percent for people with IGT, or prediabetes.

How serious is being pre diabetic?

Prediabetes is a serious health condition. People with prediabetes have higher blood sugar than normal, but not high enough yet for a diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

What is the first line of treatment for prediabetes?

Metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza, others) is generally the first medication prescribed for type 2 diabetes. It works primarily by lowering glucose production in the liver and improving your body's sensitivity to insulin so that your body uses insulin more effectively.

What foods to avoid if you are prediabetic?

Foods to avoid if you are prediabetic include sweets (pastries, cookies, cake, candy, pie, doughnuts), refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta, bagels, crackers, pretzels), sweetened breakfast cereals, flavored yogurt, fried foods, fatty meats, jams, jellies, potato chips, snack bars, and others.

How long does it take to go from prediabetes to normal?

Most people diagnosed with prediabetes develop Type 2 diabetes within 10 years. This means you should have time to prevent this from happening. On the other hand, it takes about three years to reverse prediabetes. You also have to change your lifestyle.

Can you reverse pre diabetes?

Yes, prediabetes can be reversed. The most effective way to reverse prediabetes, or return to normal blood sugar levels, is to focus on exercise, healthy eating, and losing weight. Some medications may also work to stop prediabetes becoming diabetes, but none have been approved by the FDA.

Why do I have prediabetes?

What causes prediabetes? Prediabetes happens when the insulin in your body doesn't work as well as it should. Insulin helps the cells in your body use glucose from your blood. When the insulin doesn't work properly, too much glucose builds up in your blood.

Can you avoid diabetes if you are prediabetic?

Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The good news is that if you have prediabetes, the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program can help you make lifestyle changes to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems.

Is medicine required for prediabetes?

Medication generally isn't recommended for children with prediabetes unless lifestyle changes aren't improving blood sugar levels. If medication is needed, metformin is usually the recommended drug.

Can metformin cure prediabetes?

Metformin can't cure your prediabetes. But, by helping control your blood glucose, it can help prevent type 2 diabetes, especially among those at highest risk for developing type 2 diabetes. When you have prediabetes, you tend to have higher-than-normal blood glucose.

What is normal blood sugar by age?

Target blood sugar levels for children and adolescents with diabetesTarget blood sugar levels for children and adolescents with diabetesAge 6-12Blood sugar in mg/dLFasting80-180Before meal90-1801-2 hours after eatingUp to 1401 more row

What does it mean to get tested for prediabetes?

Get tested for prediabetes if those things apply to you and if you: Have had an unusual blood sugar reading. Have heart disease. Show signs of insulin resistance, which means your body makes insulin but doesn't respond to it the way it should.

What foods can you trade for prediabetes?

Trade red meat and processed meats for nuts, whole grains, poultry, and fish. Prediabetes Prevention. Exercising and eating foods low in carbohydrates, sugars, fats, and salt can also help prevent prediabetes. Other tips include:

What are the symptoms of prediabetes?

Don't exercise. Had gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds. Have polycystic ovary syndrome. Have a sleep problem, like sleep apnea, or work changing shifts or night shifts. Get tested for prediabetes if those things apply to you and if you: Have had an unusual blood sugar reading.

How many people in the US have prediabetes?

About 84 million people over age 20 in the U.S. have prediabetes, but 90% don’t know that they have it. Prediabetes treatment can prevent more serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes and problems with your heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys.

How long do you have to eat to get a glucose test for prediabetes?

Tests and Diagnosis for Prediabetes. Your doctor will do at least one of these tests: Fasting plasma glucose test. You won’t eat for 8 hours, and then a technician will take your blood to test the sugar levels. The results are:

How old do you have to be to get prediabetes?

Prediabetes Causes and Risk Factors. You’re more likely to get prediabetes if you: Are older, especially over age 45. Have a waist larger than 40 inches around if you’re a man and 35 inches around if you’re a woman.

Can a child be diagnosed with prediabetes?

Children and Prediabetes Testing. Doctors diagnose prediabetes based on the same blood sugar levels, no matter the person’s age. The American Diabetes Association says children 10 and older should be tested if they’re overweight or obese and have: A family member with type 2 diabetes.

What it means and what you can do

There are no clear symptoms of prediabetes so you may have it and not know it. But before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes—where blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

Lifestyle change programs

With prediabetes, there are simple steps you can take to change things, such as adapting your food choices and increasing your daily physical activity to lose weight, if needed.

Build a healthier future

With prediabetes, there are simple steps you can take to change things, such as adapting your food choices and increasing your daily physical activity to lose weight, if needed.

How to prevent prediabetes and its progression to type 2 diabetes?

Try to: Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity a week, or about 30 minutes on most days of the week.

What are the risk factors for prediabetes?

These factors include: Weight. Being overweight is a primary risk factor for prediabetes. The more fatty tissue you have — especially inside and between the muscle and skin around your abdomen — the more resistant your cells become to insulin. Waist size. A large waist size can indicate insulin resistance.

How does physical activity affect diabetes?

Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses up sugar for energy and makes the body use insulin more effectively. Age. Although diabetes can develop at any age, the risk of prediabetes increases after age 45. Family history. Your risk of prediabetes increases if you have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms of diabetes type 2?

Classic signs and symptoms that suggest you've moved from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes include: Increased thirst. Frequent urination. Excess hunger.

What happens when blood sugar drops?

When your blood sugar level starts to drop, the pancreas slows down the secretion of insulin into the blood. When you have prediabetes, this process doesn't work as well. Your pancreas may not make enough insulin or cells become resistant to insulin and don't allow as much sugar in. So, instead of fueling your cells, ...

How to bring blood sugar levels back to normal?

Eating healthy foods, making physical activity part of your daily routine and staying at a healthy weight can help bring your blood sugar level back to normal. The same lifestyle changes that can help prevent type 2 diabetes in adults might also help bring children's blood sugar levels back to normal.

Is prediabetes a type 2 diabetes?

Prediabetes means you have a higher than normal blood sugar level. It's not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes yet, but without lifestyle changes, adults and children with prediabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

What are the two largest diabetes prevention studies?

The two largest diabetes prevention studies, the United States DPP and the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS) have both shown beneficial effects of lifestyle interventions[54,55]. In the DPP study, after a 3 year follow-up, intensive lifestyle interventions (ILS) lead to a 58% risk reduction.

Is pharmacotherapy safe for children with prediabetes?

Pharmacotherapy must be used with caution in children with prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition defined as having blood glucose levels above normal but below the defined threshold of diabetes. It is considered to be an at risk state, with high chances of developing diabetes. While, prediabetes is commonly an asymptomatic condition, ...

Is prediabetes a benign condition?

The elevation of blood sugar is a continuum and hen ce prediabetes can not be considered an entirely benign condition.

Is prediabetes a high risk disease?

While, the diagnostic criteria of prediabetes are not uniform across various international professional organizations, it remains a state of high risk for developing diabetes with yearly conversion rate of 5%-10%. Observational evidence suggests as association between prediabetes and complications of diabetes such early nephropathy, ...

Is metformin safe for prediabetes?

While there is increasing evidence to prove the efficacy of pharmacotherapy in prevention of diabetes in adults with prediabetes, pharmaceutical treatment options other than metformin are associated with adverse effects that limit their use for prediabetes.

Does Exenatide help with weight loss?

Exenatide and liraglutide have been demonstrated to have long term efficacy for sustained weight loss in obese subjects and reduce prevalence of prediabetes over a follow-up period of 1-2 years. The most common side effects with these drugs are nausea and vomiting and they remain injectable preparations[72-74].

Is there a systematic evaluation of health outcomes related to prediabetes in children?

There are no reports of systematic evaluation of health outcomes related to prediabetes in children. The effects of pharmacotherapy of prediabetes on growth and pubertal development in children remains unknown. Secondary intervention with pharmacotherapy with metformin is advocated for high-risk individuals but criteria for such consideration ...

How to treat pre-diabetes?

The most effective treatment for pre-diabetes is to lose weight and exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Weight loss and exercise can improve insulin resistance and can lower elevated blood sugar levels so that you don't progress to develop diabetes.

How to reduce blood sugar levels in diabetics?

Aim for a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 25. Exercise regularly. Both aerobic and strengthening exercises can reduce blood sugar. You should exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes daily .

How long does it take for diabetes to develop?

As many as 1 in 10 people with impaired glucose tolerance will develop diabetes within one year. What happens to your pre-diabetes depends on whether you are able to prevent insulin resistance from progressing. If insulin resistance is kept in check, pre-diabetes may never become diabetes.

Why does blood sugar rise in pre diabetics?

The rise in blood sugar levels that is seen in pre-diabetes starts when the body begins to develop a problem called " insulin resistance. ". Insulin is an important hormone that helps you to process glucose (blood sugar).

What is it called when your glucose levels increase?

Depending on what a blood sugar test finds, pre-diabetes can be more specifically called "impaired glucose (sugar) tolerance" or "impaired fasting glucose.".

How long does it take for a diabetic to test for glucose?

For diagnosing pre-diabetes, your doctor can order one of the following: In a fasting glucose test, blood sugar levels are measured after at least eight hours of not eating.

What is the second glucose test?

This second test is known as a "glucose challenge.". In healthy people, the glucose challenge will cause blood sugar levels to rise slightly and fall quickly. In someone with pre-diabetes or diabetes, these levels rise very high or fall slowly, so they will be abnormally high during the two-hour blood test.

How many people in the US have prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 88 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 84% don’t know they have it.

Why does the pancreas make insulin?

Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. Eventually your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes—and type 2 diabetes down the road.

Can you have prediabetes for years?

You can have prediabetes for years but have no clear symptoms, so it 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 the risk factors for prediabetes, which include: If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting ...

Can prediabetes cause heart disease?

Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The good news is that if you have prediabetes, the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program can help you make lifestyle changes to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems.

What is the National Diabetes Prevention Program?

The CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) has been proven to help people make the lifestyle changes needed to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Through the program, participants: Work with a trained coach to make lasting lifestyle changes.

How many people have prediabetes?

And most importantly, it’s reversible. You can prevent or delay prediabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes with simple, proven lifestyle changes. Amazing but true: approximately 88 million American adults—1 in 3—have prediabetes.

What are the factors that affect the risk of diabetes?

Race and ethnicity are also a factor: African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at higher risk.

Can diabetes cause depression?

Some studies suggest that diabetes doubles the risk of depression, and that risk increases as more diabetes-related health problems develop.

Is prediabetes a big deal?

Prediabetes Is a Big Deal. Don’t let the “pre” fool you—prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Is it harder to live with diabetes than prediabetes?

Though people with prediabetes are already at a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, they don’t yet have to manage the serious health problems that come with diabetes. Diabetes affects every major organ in the body.

How to reverse prediabetes?

Eating a “clean” diet, which consists of healthier choices, can help restore normal blood sugar levels. This can reverse prediabetes and help prevent type 2 diabetes. Incorporate low fat and low calorie foods into your diet. These include: fruits with complex carbs. vegetables. lean meats. whole grains.

How to get blood sugar back after prediabetes?

1. Eat a “clean” diet. One risk factor for prediabetes is a diet high in processed foods, which have added fats, calories, and sugar without nutritional value. A diet high in red meat also heightens your risk. Eating a “clean” diet, which consists of healthier choices, can help restore normal blood sugar levels.

What is the cause of prediabetes?

The exact cause of prediabetes is unknown, but it’s associated with insulin resistance. This is when your cells stop responding to the hormone insulin. The pancreas produces insulin, which allows sugar (glucose) to enter your cells.

Does exercise help with prediabetes?

Lack of physical activity is another risk factor for prediabetes. Exercise is not only great for energy and mental health , it can also lower your blood sugar by increasing insulin sensitivity. This allows the cells in your body to use insulin more efficiently.

Can you reverse type 2 diabetes?

But you’ll need to take quick action to reverse the condition. Getting your blood sugar to a healthy range is key. You’ll not only avoid type 2 diabetes, but also complica tions associated with this condition like heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, and others.

Can prediabetes cause dark spots on the armpits?

When your body doesn’t use insulin properly, sugar can accumulate in your bloodstream. Prediabetes doesn’t always cause symptoms, although some people develop darkening of the skin around the armpits, neck, and elbows. A simple blood test can diagnose prediabetes. This includes a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test.

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Diagnosis

Clinical Trials

Alternative Medicine

Preparing For Your Appointment

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rakshith Bharadwaj
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle to prevent type 2 diabetes is the best approach.
Medication

Antidiabetics: Controls glucose level, not usually necessary.

Metformin


Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors: Acarbose can improve glycemic control in adults.

Acarbose

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

  • Eating healthy food, especially those low in fat and calories, and high in fiber
  • Being more active, increasing physical activity of at least 30 minutes per day
  • Stop smoking
  • Losing excess weight, even losing 5-10 percent can reduce risk of developing prediabetes into diabetes type 2

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Eat foods with low glycaemic index such as steel-cut oats, stone-ground whole wheat bread and non-starchy vegetables, such as carrots and field greens
  • Lean meats, such as chicken without skin, egg whites, soybean products etc.
  • Eggs and dairy products (such as milk, yogurt, and cheese)
  • Soy-based food and beverages

Foods to avoid:

  • Sugary beverages
  • Baked goods, such as, cookies, cakes, and pies
  • Frozen desserts
  • Red meat, especially processed Red meats such as hot dogs, bacon, and deli meats
  • Trans fat containing foods such as, Frozen pizza, commercially fried food, etc.

Specialist to consult

Endocrinologist
Specializes in the function and disorders of the endocrine system of the body.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.
Dieticians
Specialize in the nutritious diet and patient's food habits.

Overview

  • The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that diabetes screening for most adults begin at age 45. The ADAadvises diabetes screening before age 45 if you're overweight and have additional risk factors for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. If you've had gestational diabetes, you…
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Symptoms

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Causes

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Risk Factors

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Complications

  • Prediabetes means you have a higher than normal blood sugar level. It's not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes yet. But without lifestyle changes, adults and children with prediabetes are at high risk to develop type 2 diabetes. If you have prediabetes, the long-term damage of diabetes — especially to your heart, blood vessels and kidneys — may already be starting. There'…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Prevention

  • Prediabetes doesn't usually have any signs or symptoms. One possible sign of prediabetes is darkened skin on certain parts of the body. Affected areas can include the neck, armpits and groin. Classic signs and symptoms that suggest you've moved from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes include: 1. Increased thirst 2. Frequent urination 3. Increased hunger 4. Fatigue 5. Blurr…
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