1. Prediabetes doesn’t always lead to full-blown diabetes.
Also known as impaired glicose tolerance. Prediabetes simply means that the amount of glucose, that is, sugar, in your blood is higher than it should be but not high enough to qualify as type 2 diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, making 3 lifestyle changes, losing weight, watching your diet, and exercising, can increase your chances of preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes by up to 58 percent.

2. There is more to eating right than cutting out sweets.
All carbohydrates, whether starchy or sweet, quickly turn into glucose in your bloodstream. A bagel, for example, can hike blood sugar as much as a doughnut. The more processed and refined the food, the more quickly the conversion occurs.

3. Exercise is just as crucial as diet.
Here’s where insulin comes in: This hormone helps transport glucose from your blood into your body’s cells, which burn the sugar for energy. When you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, either your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or your cells don’t use it efficiently; as a result, glucose builds up in the blood. When you exercise and lose weight, your body is better able to employ its supply of insulin for decrease “insulin resistance”, making it easier to control blood sugar levels.
Source: The Chronicle-Telegram Parade Magazine

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you are one of 17.9 million children and adults in the United States. And, in a way, you could consider yourself lucky. After all, there are an estimated 5.7 million people who have diabetes who have not been diagnosed. With the knowledge you have, you can take important steps to manage the disease and help prevent serious complications, starting with these five tips:

1. Keep testing Check your blood glucose levels as recommended by your provider. Some patients check blood glucose levels once a day, others three or four times a day. The glycosulated hemoglobin (HgA1c) test is another critical test for people with diabetes. It gives you a big-picture view of how you’re doing by showing you average blood glucose for the last two to three months. Your provider will likely do this test at least twice a year.

2. Prevent complications Regular screenings will help you avoid getting sick with one of diabetes many possible complications. People who have diabetes are at greater risk for heart, kidney and eye diseases. Have your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked yearly and your HgA1c checked every three to six months, depending on how controlled your condition is.
At each visit, have your provider examine your feet for breaks in the skin or other changes. It is important to have a complete foot exam each year to check for nerve and vascular damage to your feet.
Every year, plan on checking your kidney function. Visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year to check for diabetic retinopathy. Lastly, see your dentist every six months for a thorough cleaning, and make sure he or she knows you have diabetes.

3. Follow your meal plan Work with a dietitian to develop a eating plan that you can follow to help you reach or maintain a healthy weight and keep blood glucose levels in control.

4. Take your medicine If your provider has prescribed medication to help you target blood glucose levels, be sure to take it as recommended. You may be able to stop taking medication if you lose weight, but always check with your provider before stopping any medication.

5. Stay active Regular exercise helps you manage your weight, gives you more energy and helps insulin medication work better to lower blood glucose levels.
Source: Healthy Outlooks Med. Mutual of Ohio booklet 2011