Can prediabetes be reversed?
Yes, prediabetes can be reversed, and this is one of the best-proven facts in preventive medicine. Losing 5 to 7 percent of body weight and walking briskly most days cuts progression to diabetes by more than half.
The mechanics are simple: less visceral fat means the body listens to its own insulin again. Protein at breakfast, vegetables and protein before carbs at meals, a 10 minute walk after the biggest meal, and consistent sleep all pull in the same direction.
Recheck HbA1c in three to six months to see the result in numbers. Many people watch themselves cross back into the normal range.
Source: CDC, prediabetes and the National Diabetes Prevention Program
See a doctor promptly if
- Excessive thirst, passing large amounts of urine, blurred vision or unexplained weight loss. These suggest blood sugar is already well above the prediabetes range
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, deep rapid breathing or a fruity smell on the breath: go to an emergency department
- A random blood glucose of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher, or a fasting glucose of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher
- New numbness, burning or pins and needles in both feet
- A wound on the foot that is not healing, or a skin or genital infection that keeps returning
Work out what your blood sugar meansneeds a meter, free, nothing to install
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
If you are buying a meter
Any major-brand glucose meter is accurate enough for home tracking. The real cost is the strips, so compare strip prices before choosing the meter.
Buying through this link supports the free library with a small commission. It never changes a pick.
Have your own result?
Send the report. A doctor explains every value in writing within 3 days.
People also ask
Health education, not medical advice.