Diabetes

How to control pre-diabetes with diet and exercise

Meenakshi S.

November 18, 2022

Diabetes cases are on the rise in India – according to 2013 data from the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 50% of all people with diabetes live in just three countries – China (98.4 million), India (65.1 million) and the US (24.4 million).

There are several reasons why Indians have a higher propensity for this lifestyle disease — urbanization, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, coupled with inherent genetic attributes and differences in body composition. Which is why, if you have been diagnosed with higher-than-normal levels of blood glucose or A1C levels – a stage referred to as pre-diabetic as blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes — don’t take it lightly. It’s important you know how to control pre-diabetes with diet and exercise.

Research published in medical journal The Lancet found that pre-diabetic patients who had at least one normal blood sugar reading, even for a short period of time, were 56% more likely to avoid progressing to diabetes during nearly six years of follow-up after the study.

So this is your chance to take control. Some simple, daily lifestyle changes can dramatically cut the risk for developing diabetes over the next couple of years. For starters, you need to lose weight by choosing healthy foods, control your portion sizes, eat less fat and increase your physical activity.

Modify your diet

Adopting healthy eating habits can help people lose a modest amount of weight and reverse insulin resistance. These dietary changes should be introduced gradually, and must be habits the person can easily maintain, as opposed to extreme weight-loss solutions.

A dietitian or weight-loss programme like HealthifyMe can be a great support at a time like this to help with the planning and monitoring.

Maintain an exercise regimen

The latest evidence-based research on physical activity and Type 2 diabetes reported in a newly-released joint position statement by American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Diabetes Association unequivocally states that regular exercise plays a major role in preventing and controlling insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes mellitus and costly diabetes-related health complications.

Research shows pre-diabetics who were physically active for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, reduced their risk of Type 2 diabetes. So if you have been diagnosed pre-diabetic, aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. For best results, do both aerobic activities, which use large muscle groups and increase heart rate, and muscle-strengthening activities. Aerobic activities can include brisk walking, climbing stairs, swimming, dancing; muscle-strengthening activities include lifting weights or body weight exercises.

People who aren’t physically active should talk to their health-care provider about what activities are best suited for them and get a check-up before starting an exercise programme. Increasing your unstructured physical activity (eg, standing, gardening, housework and walking) daily can also be a big help.

Regular physical activity tackles several risk factors at once. It can help you lose weight as well as control blood glucose and cholesterol levels as well as blood pressure.

Our experts can help build a diet & fitness plan that fits right into your lifestyle. Get in touch today.

About the Author

In addition to doing her Master’s in Physiotherapy from Oxford College, Bangalore, Meenakshi has done her MD in Alternative Medicine too. She is also a Certified Childbirth Educator, a Pre and Postnatal Fitness Expert and an ACSM Health and Fitness Specialist. Meenakshi attributes most lifestyle disorders to today’s sedentary way of living. She has always shared HealthifyMe’s vision of incorporating healthy habits into an individual’s existing lifestyle. “Do not think of diet and exercise as sacrifice, make it a habit and enjoy it instead,” she says, recommending small changes to ease the mind and body towards a more wholesome life.


Related Articles

 

5 responses to “How to control pre-diabetes with diet and exercise”

  1. Soaking the almond is understood. Should we all peel the skin before eating for maximum benefit? That enzyme coating this?

    Also how many almonds good to eat in one go, and in one day? Can this be taken as craving killer, as in eat when you fee hungry?

  2. Diabetes is a disease in which your glucose level or blood sugar increases too high. Glucose comes from the food you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose to get into the cells to give them energy. I am also suffering from type 2 diabetes and to cure this problem i have used some but, they did not work for me. After some time one of my friends suggested me to use natural remedies. From then till now I am using natural remedies and now my blood sugar level is in control.

  3. Thanks for your post. I agree that much more has to be done regarding Diabetes education in India.
    If you have questions on #diabetes, tweet to BeatO or post your Query @https://www.facebook.com/beatoapp/ & get answers from experts! #AskAboutDiabetes#WorldHealthDay @ http://goo.gl/H4ANjh

  4. Somebody essentially assist to make criitically
    articles I’d state. This is the very first time I frequented
    your website page and to this point? I surprised with the research you made to make this particular submit extraordinary.
    Great process!

  5. Taking an accurate decision in regards to look
    into the best international schools Mumbai is having
    and picking up one of the school as to evelop a child’s foundation towards a brilliant
    as well as successful future. Her answers were worrying, she believed
    the children were too young (reception) to understand thhe concepts and would therefore just get bored.
    A fact that has been exposed by the Americans is that ann uncontrolled social change can fetch a serious problem.

Add Your Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your health is our priority. Talk to one of our experts and get the best plan for you today.
whatsapp
Chat With Us