"A Touch of Sugar"

The Facts about Pre-Diabetes

"A touch of sugar" is the phrase that many people use to describe abnormal blood glucose levels that do not quite meet the classification for type 2 diabetes. The correct term for this condition is pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. Approximately 79 million people in the United States have this condition. People with pre-diabetes are at risk for cardiovascular disease and 11 percent develop type 2 diabetes within three years after diagnosis. People with pre-diabetes often do not have symptoms, or symptoms develop gradually and they do not recognize them. Populations at higher risk are African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans.

People who are over the age of 45 and overweight should visit their doctor and get a blood test. If the pre-diabetes diagnosis is made, lifestyle changes such as weight management and exercise can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent. Medications for people with type 2 diabetes are not used for pre-diabetes so it is very important to eat less and exercise more -- losing as little as 10 to 15 pounds can improve blood glucose. It's a good idea to exercise 30 minutes each day with a simple activity like walking. Check with your doctor before beginning a more intensive exercise program.

These simple strategies can have a positive impact on your health:

• Drink eight, eight-ounce glasses of water a day.
• Eat more vegetables and salads.
• Take three, ten-minute walks each day.
• Eat high-fiber foods like cereals with at least five grams of fiber (grams of sugars should be less than grams of fiber).
• Avoid salty snack foods.

People who are overweight can also take these steps to reduced their risk of developing "a touch of sugar".  Part two of this article will include more ideas for making positive changes to your lifestyle.

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