Is Your Blood Sugar a Bit Too High? How to Reverse Prediabetes

The statistics are staggering.

An estimated 1 in 3 American adults have prediabetes, and more than 8 in 10 don’t even know they have it.

This means about 38% of the U.S. population over the age of 18 has prediabetes. Among those 65 and older, that percentage increases to almost half (48.8%), according to data from the Centers for Disease Control.

But numbers don’t tell the whole story. At Conway Medical Center, we know that each of those figures represents a friend, a family member, or a neighbor. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping those with prediabetes live a healthier life with the help of our endocrinologists.

Many of our patients wonder how to reverse prediabetes—or if that is even possible. We’ll review this article more in-depth and explain how Conway Medical Center is your partner in your health care. The following steps can make a big difference in improving your blood sugar and your quality of life.

But to understand how to reverse prediabetes, it’s important to first take a closer look at the disease and how it can progress from prediabetes to diabetes.

What Does It Mean to Be Prediabetic, and How Does This Differ From Diabetes?

In prediabetes, you have a fasting blood sugar that is above normal but not high enough to be considered diabetic.

What Blood Sugar Range Is Considered Prediabetic?

If your blood sugar is higher than normal and you don’t make changes, you are much more likely to develop diabetes. This is because your cells are resistant to insulin or your pancreas may not be producing insulin properly.

The Centers for Disease Control has a prediabetes risk test that can provide additional insight.

If you have prediabetes, there is still time to make changes to keep diabetes from developing. We explore those next when we discuss how to reverse prediabetes.

What Lifestyle Changes Can I Make to Reverse Prediabetes?

How to reverse prediabetes starts with making some positive lifestyle changes. Not sure of what lifestyle changes you can make to reverse prediabetes? We’ll review these below, including how our team at Conway Medical Center can help.

Follow a Healthy Diet

It seems like so many social media influencers promote a specific type of diet. The internet is full of nutritional “advice” —some of which has questionable reliability. However, with Conway Medical Center, you can count on the reliable information from our Outpatient Nutritional Counseling Services. It’s easy to get started; you just need a referral from your primary care physician.

We’ll help you focus through the noise for accurate education on the perfect menu for those with prediabetes.

In general, you’ll want to:

• Focus on whole foods
  • Vegetables
  • Lean proteins
  • Healthy fats
  • Whole grains
• Reduce processed foods
  • Avoid sugary snacks
  • Avoid refined carbohydrates

Portion control is also vital in controlling blood sugar and preventing dramatic spikes and dips.

Get Regular Exercise and Physical Activity

Regular exercise goes a long way toward keeping prediabetes from progressing to diabetes. But exercise doesn’t have to be a marathon: a simple, brisk walk around the block is a good way to get started. We recommend strength training and aerobic exercise to get the most out of your workout.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Once again, our nutritional services can help you with your goal of maintaining a healthy weight. Coupled with regular exercise, even shaving just a few pounds off the scale can be helpful.

We also recognize that diet and exercise aren’t always enough, and some may qualify for bariatric (weight loss) surgery.

Not sure if you qualify? For more information, we go more in-depth in our blog, “Do I Qualify for Weight Loss Surgery?”

Get Adequate Sleep

You may find this one surprising, but studies indicate that poor sleep quality has an effect on your blood sugar. It can transform the way your body responds to insulin. Lack of sleep can also cause the “munchies,” which can make you feel hungrier.

Did you know that insomnia or lack of sleep can also raise your stress hormone levels? This has a further impact on blood sugar.

Manage Stress

You can blame it on cortisol and glucagon.

Both of these hormones, which are produced when you’re stressed, raise your blood sugar levels. We suggest relaxation techniques like mindfulness, yoga and even something simple like deep breathing.

If stress is making it difficult for you to cope with day-to-day life, then we encourage you to speak with a professional counselor or therapist.

Speak With Your Doctor About Medications

There are some medications, such as Metformin, that can help you regulate your blood sugar. Your physician will work directly with you to determine which prescription would be right for you. However, we have found that medication when used in conjunction with healthy lifestyle changes can make the most dramatic difference.

Medicines Are Effective, But Lifestyle Modifications Are Extremely Powerful

Medications can be used to help keep your blood sugar in check, but studies show that those who made lifestyle changes were much more likely to maintain healthy blood sugar levels than those who did not.

How Long Does It Take to Reverse Prediabetes?

This depends not only on your individual medical situation but also on how consistent you are with lifestyle changes and adjustments.

However, studies by the Diabetes Prevention Program discovered that 25% of those who adopted healthy lifestyle changes reversed prediabetes within a year.

Conway Medical Center Has the Leading Medical Team to Help You Manage Prediabetes

If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, there’s still time to prevent it from becoming Type 2 diabetes. By reserving prediabetes, you can dramatically reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

We have served the Myrtle Beach and Horry County area for a century, each year marked by our dedication toward helping those in our community live a healthier, longer life. Do you have questions about diabetes or do you need help implementing positive lifestyle changes? We’re here for you.

When you see your primary care provider, you can ask for a referral to CMC Endocrinology. Your provider can send the referral by fax to 843-234-6896. For new patient forms and more details about the practice, visit CMC Endocrinology.