Introduction
Just because you’ve been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or have higher risk factors, this does not mean you will necessarily develop type 2 diabetes. It is important that you learn and participate in activities that may help you prevent or delay diabetes. It is also important that you encourage your children to do the same starting at a very young age. These activities include daily exercise as recommended by your physician and maintaining a healthy weight.
If you’ve been diagnosed with pre-diabetes it is not too late to help stall or even stop the development of diabetes by managing your blood glucose. If you are overweight or obese, losing an average of 5 to 10 percent of your current weight and being more physically active will help the body metabolize glucose and hopefully keep blood sugar levels within normal. Your doctor, a registered dietitian, preferably a certified diabetes educator, and a physical therapist can help you make lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes and improve your overall health and well-being.
Ways to prevent developing type 2 diabetes
Most health experts recommend you stay active, maintain an ideal body weight, and eat a balanced diet high in fiber and healthy fats, and low in simple sugars. Have your blood glucose checked routinely so you can both track your blood glucose levels and know what they are. Seek professional help if you notice your glucose levels rising.. There have been clinical trials linking participants who lost weight and increased their physical activity to a 58 percent reduced risk of developing diabetes.
