News » Do you have Pre-diabetes?
Posted by on 4 July 2014
Pre-diabetes occurs when the glucose (sugar) in your blood is higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes. Pre-diabetes very often leads to diabetes. An annual blood test can help with early detection of pre-diabetes.
By the time you are diagnosed with diabetes, you have lost about 1/2 of your beta cells. Beta cells are needed to make insulin. Insulin transports glucose/sugar from the blood stream to be used by your body for energy. If you don't have enough insulin and/or your blood vessels are surrounded by too much fat, it is difficult for insulin to do its job. Too much glucose/sugar left in blood vessels damages them which leads to the complications of diabetes, such as eye, kidney, nerve and heart damage.
Once diabetes is diagnosed, you lose 4% of your beta cells per year. The following are some tips on how you can prevent pre-diabetes developing and conserve your beta cells.
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Keep your weight under control.
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Avoid foods high in fat, sugars and salt.
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Eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, wholegrain cereals and breads.
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Eat 30-40 grams of fibre per day.
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Be sensible with how much you eat.
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Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
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Keep active, move every opportunity you get - exercise!
*information retrieved from Diabetes NZ