Are you living with prediabetes? You're not alone – many individuals are. However, it's crucial to recognize that just because it's called 'pre' diabetes, it doesn't mean you should take it lightly.
Unfortunately, prediabetes is a grave condition that puts people at the higher risk for serious health complications, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, dementia, and even premature death.
At HealthspanMD™, Robert Todd Hurst, MD and his team urge patients not to underestimate the seriousness of prediabetes. By working alongside you to put a custom Healthspan Action Plan in place, we can help you take proactive steps to safeguard your health.
Keep reading to learn more about how prediabetes treatment can extend your Healthspan and help you prevent or delay the onset of chronic diseases.
Understanding Prediabetes
Prediabetes, also known as metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance, is a condition characterized by higher than normal blood sugar levels, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Essentially, it's a warning sign that your body is having trouble with insulin and blood sugar regulation. Often, there are no clear symptoms of prediabetes, which can make it difficult to diagnose. However, some individuals may experience increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.
Risk factors for prediabetes often include being overweight, being 45 years or older, having high blood pressure, having a family history of type 2 diabetes, and leading a sedentary lifestyle. If you have prediabetes, you're not alone. Prediabetes has increased dramatically in recent decades and now affects 38% of adults in the US and 20% of children 12-19 years of age.
The Impact of Prediabetes on Health
Prediabetes can lead to significant health problems due to its strong association with insulin resistance, a condition that prevents your body from effectively using insulin. This results in elevated blood glucose levels, which, over time, can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to heart disease. This damage can also increase the risk of stroke, as your arteries may become blocked or narrowed, limiting blood flow to the brain.
Furthermore, the high blood pressure that often accompanies prediabetes can strain your heart, harden your arteries, and make your blood clots more likely, all of which can precipitate a heart attack or stroke.
Research also suggests a potential link between prediabetes and an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. This may be due to the adverse effects of higher blood glucose levels and insulin resistance on cell growth and regulation.
Impaired glucose tolerance, a hallmark of prediabetes, signifies that your body isn't managing blood sugar as it should, putting you on the fast track to developing diabetes. Having prediabetes means your chances of developing diabetes are high unless interventions, such as the Healthspan Action Plan™, are put in place for effective disease control.
In short, prediabetes is a pivotal stage where you can still take decisive action to improve your health and avert the onset of these serious complications. By understanding and managing this condition, you can safeguard your well-being and enjoy a longer, healthier life.
Unhealthy Metabolism and Prediabetes: Recognizing the Signs
Prediabetes is indicative of an unhealthy metabolism – a metabolism that sets you up for heart disease, stroke, cancer, dementia, and premature death. There are four key signs of an unhealthy metabolism:
- High blood sugar levels (diabetes or prediabetes)
- Unhealthy weight (particularly around the midsection)
- High blood pressure
- Unhealthy cholesterol levels
Healing Your Metabolism: Ten Tools for Optimal Health
HealthspanMD's risk assessment model focuses on the ten most influential factors that contribute to chronic diseases. By considering these factors, we gain a comprehensive understanding of your lifestyle, as well as your physical and mental well-being. We refer to these factors as the Healthspan-10™:
- Blood pressure levels
- Insulin/blood glucose levels
- Cholesterol levels
- Toxins
- Restorative sleep
- Body composition
- Nutrition
- Physical activity
- Stress management
- Social & purpose connection
Prediabetes treatment is all about tailoring the Healthspan-10™ to fit your specific needs. By optimizing these ten elements to the best of your ability, you can start to effectively manage and even reverse your prediabetes.
However, if after applying these measures, your prediabetes persists, then it may be necessary to consider medicinal interventions as a part of your Healthspan Action Plan. Remember, we are here to work with you and support your journey to improved metabolic health.
A Personalized Healthspan Action Plan™ for You
Prediabetes is a complex condition that requires personalized care to address all underlying factors. At HealthspanMD, we collaborate with you to create a customized Healthspan Action Plan based on your specific needs, goals, and medical history. Your care coordinator will work closely with you to implement lifestyle changes that can improve your metabolic health and reverse prediabetes.
If you're ready to learn more about improving your Healthspan, schedule your first appointment with Dr. Hurst today.
