Prediabetes is extremely common, and it usually shows up with zero warning signs at all. You feel fine, go to work, play with your kids or grandkids, sleep through the night and nothing feels wrong.
Because there is no pain or obvious change, many people never get tested. They only learn about it when the doctor finally checks their sugar and sees that the numbers have climbed too high for too long. Without testing, people learn they had prediabetes only on the day it tips over the line and becomes type 2 diabetes.
Below, our endocrinologists in East Chicago, Indiana are going to explain why prediabetes is not a harmless waiting stage. We will also clarify whether it can still be reversed at this stage, and what it takes to push blood sugar back into a safer range before it becomes diabetes.
What makes prediabetes so scary?
Prediabetes is when your blood sugar is at a range that is higher than normal but not high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. The word “pre” can sound harmless. But even at this stage, the body is already under pressure. Your pancreas is already working overtime to produce more insulin, and your cells are struggling to use it as they should.
Most people with prediabetes have no symptoms at all. There is no pain, thirst, fatigue or anything else that would push you to see a doctor. That silence is exactly what makes it risky.
While you are living your normal life, the extra sugar in your blood is repeatedly brushing against the lining of your blood vessels and nerves. Over time, that irritation increases your risks of heart disease and stroke even before your numbers qualify as diabetes.
The only way to know you are in that zone is with a simple blood test, like an A1C or a fasting glucose test. An experienced endocrinologist in East Chicago, Indiana can order these tests and help you catch prediabetes while there is still a good chance to reverse course.
Is there a way to bring your blood sugar levels back to normal now?
For many people, prediabetes can be slowed down and even pushed back into the normal range. That is the whole point of catching it early.
When you act during the prediabetes stage, your body is not completely tired out yet. Your pancreas still has some strength left and your cells can still improve their response. So, when you make changes now, you are working with a body that still has fight left in it.
The strongest tools here are steady everyday habits. For example, losing a small amount of extra weight can help your body use insulin more effectively. Even simple things like walking most days of the week can train your cells to pull more sugar out of your blood.
This is not just theory. In the large Diabetes Prevention Program study, people who made these changes reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than 58%. In adults aged 60 and older, the risk reduction was 71%.
What if lifestyle changes don’t bring your numbers down?
Even when you do your best to reverse it with lifestyle changes, blood sugar can still stay high. When that happens, an endocrinologist in East Chicago, Indiana may add medication to help the body respond better to insulin or to help the liver release less sugar into the blood.
The decision to start a medicine is not random. Your doctor will look at your actual numbers over time, your weight, your family history and how fast the sugar is rising.
The main idea is that you should not wait until diabetes is “official.” There is a real window of time when prediabetes can be reversed, but that window does not stay open forever.
Looking for an affordable endocrinologist in East Chicago, Indiana?
Have you been told you have prediabetes or are you simply worried you might? If so, and if you are looking for an experienced endocrinologist in East Chicago, Indiana, 219 Health Network is here for you. Our experienced endocrinologists can help you catch blood sugar problems early and make changes while your body is still able to bounce back. Contact us today at 833-219-0001 to schedule a visit with one of our specialists.