What is Pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes occurs when your blood sugar level is higher than normal and can often leads to diabetes. But, the difference is that in pre-diabetes your sugar levels are not yet high enough for you to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
People with pre-diabetes are at an increased risk of developing other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.
Once you discover that you have pre-diabetes, change is possible. In fact, the CDC offers a National Diabetes Prevention Program that allows you to work with a coach to make lifestyle changes and prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
What Causes Pre-diabetes?
Insulin, an essential hormone for survival, plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels in the body.
When you consume food, it is broken down into sugar which enters the bloodstream. This triggers the pancreas to produce and release insulin.
What happens when chronic overconsumption of sugar disrupts this balance?
The pancreas produces more insulin to move blood sugar into cells. However, over time, cells become resistant to insulin and no longer respond to it.
The pancreas increases insulin production, but it becomes ineffective as it cannot keep up, resulting in high blood sugar levels. If left untreated, this can lead to pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Certain risk factors, such as being overweight and physically inactive, can contribute to the development of pre-diabetes.
Getting blood work done and consulting with a qualified healthcare provider are important steps to determine whether you have pre-diabetes or not.
References
- CDC- Prediabetes- Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
- Image credit: Unsplash