There are three recommended blood testing methods to identify or diagnose prediabetes: A1C, fasting plasma glucose, and 2-hour post 75 g oral glucose challenge. These are the same tests currently recommended to identify undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.
The A1C test—also known as the hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c test—is a simple blood test. Your A1C is used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes, and monitor your progress.
Reversing Prediabetes — Is it possible? Yes! “If you've been diagnosed with prediabetes, progressing to diabetes is not a given,” Seymour emphasizes. In addition to taking medications, she says there are other ways to take control.
Water. Plain water is the best drink for everyone, but especially for people living with diabetes. It's naturally hydrating and free of carbohydrates and calories.
The best way to treat — and potentially reverse — prediabetes is through healthy lifestyle changes. Regularly eating nutritious foods and getting regular exercise can help return your blood sugar to healthy levels and prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes.
Fasting blood sugar test
In general: Less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L ) is normal. 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L ) is diagnosed as prediabetes. 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L ) or higher on two separate tests is diagnosed as diabetes.
Test kits are available for monitoring blood sugar levels and for discovering whether you might have prediabetes or diabetes. Here's how they work.
A dark patch (or band) of velvety skin on your neck, armpit, groin, or elsewhere could be a sign of pre-diabetes. The medical name for the condition that causes this velvety skin is acanthosis nigricans.
Doctors consider blood sugar to be low when it falls under 70 mg/dL or 4 mmol/L in people with diabetes. A low blood sugar headache feels like dull throbbing at your temples. It may occur with other symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as feeling hungry, tired, or light-headed.
What factors increase the risk of developing prediabetes? The same factors that may increase the risk of a person getting type 2 diabetes also may increase the risk of prediabetes, including: Age 35 or older.
If you are struggling to get up in the morning; feeling a total lack of energy or 'fogginess' or not able to perform the tasks you normally do as simply too exhausted it may be that you actually are suffering from fatigue... and it could be a side effect of your diabetes.
In fact, decreasing your body weight by just 5 percent may be enough to get your blood sugar levels into to the normal range. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people who have prediabetes lose at least 7 to 10 percent of their body weight to lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Individuals experiencing prediabetes may notice changes in their feet, such as tingling sensations or numbness, indicative of nerve damage associated with elevated blood sugar levels. Reduced blood flow to the feet is another symptom, leading to slower healing of wounds or infections.
Drinking water instead of other beverages may help control blood sugar and insulin levels, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes. Sticking with water most of the time helps you avoid beverages that are high in sugar, preservatives and other unneeded ingredients.
Fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat milk are the best sources of carbs. This is because foods high in fiber slow down the transport and absorption of glucose so that your body doesn't get a sugar bolus as it is absorbed more slowly as it travels through your gut.
Bananas can be OK for prediabetes. But they should be eaten in very limited quantities since they have a high glycemic load and may raise your blood glucose.
But there is one food that stands alone as the best snack for lower blood sugar: nuts. Nuts are delicious, nutritious and incredibly versatile as far as snack foods go. Plus, they can be stored at room temperature (or in the freezer for longer periods) and are great for grab-and-go snacks.
Drinking water and staying hydrated is important for managing blood sugar, also known as blood glucose. “Water helps your kidneys filter out excess sugar through urine,” says Khan. “So, the more hydrated you are, the more urine production you'll have, which flushes out sugar in the body.”
Berries. Don't make your trip to the store fruitless. Dad jokes aside, foods like blueberries provide fiber and antioxidants known to lower blood sugar and inflammation. Similarly, one study found strawberries reduced diabetes complications like kidney disease and nerve damage.