red me the most was talking to Synia about her mom, who was on dialysis. Around the same time, a friend who was a diabetic learned that she needed a kidney transplant. That's when I realized that I wasn't OK, and that I needed to make some major changes to prevent these kinds of problems. In the past, I had promised my doctor I would diet and exercise, but it was always so hard and I gave up quickly. This time, I joined a diabetic education program and, with their support, finally stuck it out. Now I'm down to 147 pounds and my doctor has even lowered my dose of medication.
4 Foods to Fight Diabetes
Research has shown that people who regularly have the following foods may be less likely to develop type 2 diabetes:
1. Whole grains (including oatmeal, whole-grain breads and cereals)
2. Spinach, kale and other leafy greens
3. Lowfat dairy
Which Tests to Get When
The current guidelines call for anyone 45 and older to get screened for diabetes, but ask your doctor about doing it earlier if you have any risk factors, including a family history of the disease, a body mass index (BMI) over 25 (go to womansday.com/bmi to learn yours), high blood pressure, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, or if you had gestational diabetes or a baby weighing more than 9 pounds. Certain ethnic groups are also at a higher risk, including African-Americans, Native Americans, Latinos and Asians.
Your doctor will give you one of these tests (or both): a fasting blood sugar test, in which your blood sugar levels are measured after fasting for eight hours, or an oral glucose tolerance test, in which your blood sugar levels are tested after you drink a sweet liquid that contains glucose, a type of sugar. The oral glucose test is often used to diagnose gestational diabetes in pregnant women.
The results of both tests can also tell your doctor if you have pre-diabetes (your blood sugar levels are too high to be normal but not high enough to be diabetes).
Surprising Signs That You May Be Developing Diabetes
Excessive thirst or hunger or frequent urination are the well-knowns, but here are some not-as-apparent clues that you may be on the road to developing the disease and should talk to your health care provider ASAP:
1. Recurrent vaginal yeast infections
2. Tingling in the extremities
3. Blurred vision
4. Gum infections
6. Trouble concentrating
7. Poor wound healing
8. Unexplained weight loss
You've Got Pre-diabetes, Now What?
Step one: Exercise more, eat healthier and slim down if you're overweight. "Being diagnosed with pre-diabetes is more than a warning," says Paul S. Jellinger, MD, past president of the American College of Endocrinology. "It's evidence that the disease process has already begun." In fact, studies suggest that most people with pre-diabetes (meaning your blood sugar is high but not high enough to be diabetes) will develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. But you can lower your risk with these crucial steps:
Lose weight if you need to Aim to shed 5 to 10% of your body weight. In the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program study, people who did this lowered their risk of developing diabetes by 58%.
Exercise at least 30 minutes five days a week or more.
Get a fasting blood sugar test and a hemoglobin A1c test at least once a year. The A1c tests gives a sense of your sugar levels over the past three months.
Check your cholesterol and triglycerides every 6–12 months. Levels should be kept as low as is recommended for diabetics, which may mean taking meds.
Keep your blood pressure less than 130/80 (as low as is recommended for diabetics).
Consider taking a blood sugar–lowering medication if you're at especially high risk for developing diabetes.