Prediabetes means you have a higher than normal blood glucose level but not high enough for a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes is reversible; Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition.

Having prediabetes means you’re at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. However, it also gives you an opportunity to make changes to your lifestyle that might prevent Type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Loyd is a diabetes specialist who treats prediabetes at Evolve Diabetes & Wellness.

Prediabetes often develops without causing symptoms. However, some people with the condition may develop darkened skin around the neck or armpits (acanthosis nigricans), skin tags, or have problems with their eyes.

Your primary care provider may screen for diabetes or prediabetes with a fasting blood glucose test or check of your hemoglobin A1C, which measures your average blood sugar over a three-month period.

Your risk of developing prediabetes, and diabetes, increases as you get older. Having a family history of Type 2 diabetes or a personal history of gestational diabetes puts you at a greater risk of developing prediabetes.

Insulin resistance causes prediabetes. Insulin is a hormone the pancreas makes that assists in transporting glucose from your blood into your cells. If you have prediabetes, your cells are no longer responding to the actions of the insulin, so the glucose stays in the blood.

Your body responds by making and releasing more insulin. That extra insulin helps your blood glucose level stay within a normal range. However, over time, your pancreas can’t keep up, and insulin production slows down, so blood glucose goes up.

Lifestyle changes are the primary treatments for prediabetes. That includes diet modifications, regular exercise, and weight loss. At Evolve Diabetes & Wellness, Dr. Loyd provides diet counseling and medical weight loss.

She takes time to educate you about your diagnosis and helps you create lifestyle changes that can reverse prediabetes and improve your health. Losing as little as 5% of your current weight — 10 pounds for a 200-pound person — can make a huge difference in your health.

Making these lifestyle changes naturally lowers your blood glucose level and improves insulin resistance.

Are you looking for expert management of prediabetes? Call Evolve Diabetes & Wellness or schedule an appointment online today.