November is Diabetes Awareness Month and the perfect time to learn more about this condition. While most are familiar with diabetes, many are not as aware of prediabetes. By understanding prediabetes, you’ll be able to better protect yourself from diabetes and its negative effects on your health.
We here at Unidos Contra La Diabetes are committed to serving our community and providing the information, resources, and support you need to live a long and healthy life. Read on to learn more about prediabetes.
What Prediabetes Is and Its Primary Causes
Prediabetes is a condition in which an individual has blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but which have not yet reached the degree to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
While diabetes is undoubtedly a tough condition that can greatly affect those inflicted, there is plenty that we can each do to best protect ourselves from developing prediabetes and diabetes. One of the first steps is learning the primary causes of this condition:
1.Overeating Processed Foods and Sugary Drinks
When you are not eating healthy foods, you are probably not getting the optimal nutrition you need for your body. Without these key nutrients, your body will begin to work less efficiently and risk developing diseases.
Unfortunately, fast food and sugary meals are easily available to most of us and are easy choices to make when on the go. But those unhealthy levels of sugar, sodium, and fats can come back to haunt us. Over time, an unhealthy diet can lead to serious health issues, including the development of prediabetes.
2.Being Overweight
For our bodies to function healthily and properly, we need to be at a healthy weight. The more visceral fat we have on our bodies, the harder it becomes for our body and organs to perform as they should. The heavier we are, the more stress we put on our vital organs and the greater the likelihood of developing a serious health condition.
3.Having High Cholesterol
Did you know that we need cholesterol? It helps our body create healthy body cells. However, having too much cholesterol in our body can lead to problems arising.
When you have high levels of cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Over time, these deposits will build up and make it hard for your blood to flow through your arteries. This can sometimes lead to forming clots that can cause a heart attack.
4.Limited or Lack of Exercise
To live a healthy life, our bodies need to be active. This means exercising between 3 to 5 times a week, depending on your overall health and what you are capable of doing.
A good exercise routine can help to improve and maintain your health, increase muscle, build your cardiovascular system, and so much more. Additionally, exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues, improving your overall health.
What You Can Do to Minimize Your Risk of Developing Diabetes
Why diabetes can be a scary challenge, fortunately, we can reverse prediabetes if you start making the right lifestyle choices. You hold the power to change things.
If you think you might be prediabetic, then consider taking the following steps:
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- Talk with your doctor about getting tested
- Work closely with your doctor and other health professionals to develop a health plan that includes changes to your diet
- Start exercising and implement a workout routine that works for you
- Make small changes to your lifestyle like drinking less alcohol
- Keep up all the hard work you do
With some meaningful changes, you can minimize your risk of developing diabetes and can even reverse your prediabetes condition.
Unidos Contra La Diabetes Is Here for You
At Unidos Contra La Diabetes, we have a deep love and concern for our Rio Grande Valley community. We know the challenges that our community members face, and we want to do our part to help each and everyone lead a healthy and fulfilling life.
If you think you might be prediabetic, don’t be afraid to reach out to us. We offer a wide range of services and resources that can help you minimize your risk of developing this condition, or if you have diabetes, we can support you.
