on 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.