Suman Agarwal is a nutritionist and the founder of SelfCare. She gives and informative talk about what pre-diabetic conditions are and how to deal with them.

Prediabetes is a condition brought on by an unhealthy lifestyle. If left untreated, pre-diabetic conditions can lead to more serious diseases. However, most people suffering from pre-diabetes are not even aware that they are.

Here Are The Symptoms That Will Help You To Identify If You Or Someone You Know Might Be Suffering From Pre-Diabetes

Inability To Lose Weight:

If you are unable to lose weight or tend to put on weight for no reason, you might be pre-diabetic. Weight gain is mostly around the stomach, but women gain weight on their arms as well.

Pigmentation:

Pigmentation on the back of the neck, under-arms, and folds of the skin can be indicative of the condition. Pre-diabetes can also cause pigmentation around the face; on the forehead and at the side of the eyes. This type of pigmentation is called acanthosis nigricans.

Hair Loss:

Pre-diabetes has been known to cause moderate to severe hair loss. So, if you find that you are losing hair for no apparent reason you might want to get yourself checked.

Aside from the visible symptoms, blood tests can also show indicators of pre-diabetic condition:

Elevated levels of LDL and triglycerides and lower levels of HDH (the good cholesterol) is a sign that you could have pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is also associated with higher than normal levels of uric acid and liver enzymes like ALT and GGT. A blood test with these results places you at a high possibility of having the condition.

To be sure about whether or not you have pre-diabetes, you need to do your fasting and postprandial (after a meal), blood sugar check as well as your fasting and postprandial insulin check. Fasting insulin levels that are over ten and post-meal insulin levels that are above 25 would mean that you are pre-diabetic. In addition to blood sugar and insulin levels, your doctor might also prescribe an HbA1c test. This level when between 5.6 and 6.7 is an indicator of insulin resistance or pre-diabetic condition.

The Good News

Pre-diabetes is reversible and it is possible for anyone to get back to good health with the right steps and a proper chronic care management plan. The first step is to identify if you have the condition. If you do, then you should consult with an endocrinologist. If required the doctor will be able to prescribe the right medication for you. What you will also need to do is one hour of exercise every day. When exercising make sure to do both cardio and resistance training like Pilates, weight training, swimming or yoga.

The pre-diabetic condition can cause sugar cravings. To avoid binge eating desserts, it helps to eat your meals on time and at regular intervals. Make sure to have breakfast, lunch, snacks, and healthy Indian dishes for diabetes during dinner with fillers in between if required. Ensuring that you never get too hungry will prevent you from wanting to reach for something sweet. Because of insulin resistance in pre-diabetes, even the smallest quantity of dessert can cause an excess in weight gain. To maintain a healthy weight, avoid fried snacks and potatoes, and ensure you take the necessary precautions for pre-diabetes. You can visit our blog article on Type 1 vs Type 2 diabetes for more knowledge.

And finally, if you want to rid yourself of pre-diabetic conditions make sure to get seven to eight hours of sleep every night. If you follow all these steps and take your medicines as prescribed, you should be on the road to good health in no time. Make good health your mission by gaining more knowledge on such conditions on our health and lifestyle blog.