A little over 84 million people in the United States have prediabetes. This is a surprisingly large number compared to how many people live in this country, about 326 million people. So, almost 1 in every 3 people has the beginnings of a metabolic disease.
It’s an epidemic!
However, those who are diagnosed can take steps keep their prediabetes from becoming diabetes. Your doctor will likely go over a few recommendations, such as exercising more and cutting your carb intake. Your GP may also suggest losing some weight, as this has been shown to reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes. All you need to do is lose about 5 to 10 percent of your current weight to gain this benefit.
Creating a Plan
To help you on your journey towards good health, you should have a plan to follow. A doctor or a dietician may be able to put one together for you, but you can also create your own. This plan should include educating yourself about prediabetes, carb counting, and how metabolic disorders affect your body. It should also include some guidelines for eating and activity, such as:
- 30 minutes of exercise about five days a week
- eating more fiber
- switching to a low-carb diet of 21 to 70 grams of carbs a day
- eating less than 1500 mg. Of sodium daily
- one drink of alcohol or less a day
- taking your prescribed medication
Your doctor may also prescribe metformin for you if you are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This medication is the only one suggested for the prevention of diabetes. It helps keep your liver from producing glucose, which stabilizes your overall glucose levels.
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[expand title=”References“]
New CDC report: More than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes. URL Link. Accessed October 9th, 2017.
U.S. and World Population Clock. URL Link. Accessed October 9th, 2017.
Prediabetes. URL Link. Accessed October 9th, 2017.
What Is Prediabetes? URL Link. Accessed October 9th, 2017.
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