5 Signs of Pre-diabetes that you didn’t know

With diabetes becoming a growing concern in India, a large number of people are opting for regular screening to check their sugar levels. Most people are aware of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and consider their sugar levels normal if they aren’t diagnosed as one of these. However, there is another condition rapidly gaining ground, termed as pre-diabetes. This denotes borderline sugar levels which can turn to diabetes if corrective action isn’t taken.

In India, over 80 million people are considered to be pre-diabetic which is quite a significant numberi. Additionally, as the symptoms at this stage are almost non-existent, it may go undiagnosed till it becomes full blown diabetes! Here we bring you some of the lesser known symptoms of pre-diabetes that you may not even be aware of.

• Dry mouth: A dry mouth along with excess thirst is a major indicator of abnormal sugar levels. When the sugar levels in the bloodstream are high, it leads to frequent urination and dehydration which may result in dryness of the mouth and a sense of constantly feeling parched. In some cases, this symptom may also be accompanied with swollen or bleeding gums due to nerve damage caused by excess sugar.

• Dark and patchy skin: The sudden dark patches appearing on your skin are often an early symptom of high sugar levels or pre-diabetes. A lot of young adults tend to dismiss this factor by blaming the sun, pollution, weather conditions and a host of different reasons. However, dark patches, especially around the neck, elbows, and knees tend to be a result of excess blood sugar or hormonal imbalance and should be rectified at the earliest.

• Social withdrawal and behavioural change: Do you find yourself moody and irritable? Or the constant feeling of fatigue making you snappy and low? A lot of times, these factors are accompanied with a sense of social withdrawal where people don’t want to step out of their house because they are just tired and low on energy. Well, the good news is that you probably haven’t lost your social groove but unfortunately it may be time to recheck your sugar levels. Fluctuating sugar levels can take a huge toll on your body leaving you tired, moody and feeling a little depressed. However, the instant your levels get back on track, so will your emotional health and energy.

• Insomniac tendencies: Finding yourself staying up each night without any reason is another symptom of elevated sugar levels. If the phrase, ‘early to bed, early to rise’ phenomenon seems a mystery to you, it may be time to check your sugar levels! This is because elevated sugar levels can affect your metabolism, hormonal balance and nervous system, all of which can impact sleep. Further, the more disrupted your sleep, the higher is the chance of your pre-diabetes turning into diabetes. So, if you aren’t getting your share of snooze at night, you may be suffering from an undiagnosed case of pre-diabetes.

• Sexual dysfunction: An often unknown and embarrassing symptom for many, sexual dysfunction is another symptom of elevated blood sugar levels or pre-diabetes. While this is found commonly in people with diabetes, if high sugar levels stay undiagnosed for a long time, as is often witnessed with pre-diabetes, it can lead to nerve damage and problems in the genital area, making sex uncomfortable.

Along with these, it is also essential to keep a watch for common pre-diabetes symptoms and risk factors as indicated below:

• Family history: In a family where either or both parents have a diabetic diagnosis or any of the siblings have been detected with high sugar levels, the risk increases making a regular screening essential.
• Expanded waist size: As the area around the abdomen increases, the body’s ability to metabolise sugar decreases, thus increasing the risk for pre-diabetes in people that are obese. A waist size of 35 inches or more in a woman and 40 inches or more in a man is a serious concern for blood sugar levels and puts one in a risk category for pre-diabetes.
• Sedentary lifestyle: Decreased physical activity levels are also a major reason for elevated sugar levels as the body doesn’t utilise enough energy causing the sugar to stay in the bloodstream.
• Junk food consumption: Increased consumption of processed and junk food that are extremely high in sugar, salt and fat, along with irregular meal times, can also elevate sugar levels.

Thus, we can see that there are certain warning signs of pre-diabetes or high sugar levels, even though one may not commonly associate them with this condition. Visiting a Doctor on experiencing these symptoms and making guided lifestyle and diet changes in time can go a long way in reversing your pre-diabetes and preventing diabetes.

To #ReversePrediabetes,

Visit www.lifespanindia.com

Call 1800 3000 1893

9 exclusive exercise tips for Prediabetics

A sedentary lifestyle with minimal activity has become one of the leading factors for the rise of pre-diabetes and diabetes in India. Individuals can be found sitting for a large part of the day, be it at work, home or even during a social gathering. Further, when it comes to the gym or maintaining an exercise routine, no one seems to have time in the day.

Well, if you are someone who is generally sedentary and has been classified as pre-diabetic, do not worry. We bring you exclusive exercise tips that can help you start your exercise routine in a healthy and effective manner to correctly beat pre-diabetes and possibly even reverse it!

1. Start small

For someone who hasn’t been active for a while, starting an intense exercise routine suddenly is surely going to have a negative impact. You don’t have to run at a high speed or a long distance on your first day. It’s ok to start with 10 minutes and build up your intensity as you move along.

2. Always do your warm-up and cool-down stretches

A common mistake made by people is jumping into the exercise routine without an adequate warm-up. This is essential as it warms up your muscles and prepares your body for the main exercise. Additionally, it helps the heart rate build and slow down in a healthy manner, which is essential in pre-diabetes as high sugar levels add to heart risk.

3. Go for a walk

Walking is among the most recommended exercise for pre-diabetics as it can be done by anyone, even beginners, at any time and with low risk of injury. Research studies indicate that even thirty minutes of brisk walking, thrice a can help lower blood sugar levels and improve overall fitness.

4. Add some yoga

This ancient form of exercise is perfect for everyone and especially for people with a hormonal imbalance or elevated sugar levels. The yoga asanas offer complete body movements in a gentle manner and help improve sugar metabolism, nerve function, heart function and overall fitness, all of which are essential with pre-diabetes.

5. Jazz up your routine with aerobics and dance

It is also important for people with pre-diabetes to do some intense exercises 3 times a week to get the heart pumping and improve sugar metabolism. It improves blood sugar and helps fight stress while burning away a good amount of calories.

6. Power on with strength-training

Elevated sugar levels can affect your muscle strength and nervous system over time. This is why people with pre-diabetics are advised to include some strength training exercises that keep the joints and muscles strong. In addition, these exercises increase the need for energy by the muscles thereby promoting increased conversion of sugar into energy.

7. Don’t push yourself too hard

Keep in mind that when you start your exercise routine, there are going to be days your body feels sore or days you can’t do much. Don’t push yourself too hard when you are uncomfortable but listen to your body and adapt your routine for the day accordingly.

8. Carry a snack

In case you feel that your blood sugar levels are fluctuating during your workout routine leading to dizziness or low energy, carry a snack like a fruit or crackers to counter low sugar levels.

9. Reward yourself

A little motivation can go a long way in motivating you to stay on track with your exercise regime. Each time you achieve a goal, reward yourself with something fun.

These exercise tips are just supplementary to get your sugar levels in control, but  it is recommended to get a timely diagnosis and treatment from a Diabetologist, as Prediabetes with proper treatment and lifestyle changes can be reversed.

To #ReversePrediabetes,

Visit www.lifespanindia.com

Call 1800 3000 1893

Don’t ignore these 5 lesser known signs of Prediabetes

Pre-diabetes has become a raging concern in India with an increasing number of cases being diagnosed. 60% of Prediabetics go on to develop Diabetes.

In addition, common symptoms like increased thirst and urination, increased hunger and blurry vision, may have become well known, but it is important to note that these symptoms do not arise overnight, but tend to build up gradually. Further, there are some additional symptoms that may be indicative of high blood sugar, which one would not even think to associate with pre-diabetes.

This could be a major reason why a majority of pre-diabetes cases are still undiagnosed. Here we bring you some of the lesser known symptoms of pre-diabetes that can help you with a timely diagnosis and better management of this condition.

Your vision seems to be changing

You may have heard that blurry vision is a sign of blood sugar levels being higher than normal, but did you know that a sudden improvement in your vision can also indicate abnormal sugar levels? According to research studies, high sugar levels can lead to movement in the bodily fluids including the eyes. This can lead to changes in the vision which may be blurry or more defined. However, the instant you observe any sudden changes in your eyesight, it is advisable to go in for a consultation.

UTI seems to be a frequent occurrence

UTI or Urinary Tract Infection can also be a symptom of elevated sugar levels. Especially if this condition becomes a recurrent concern, doctors advise to instantly check blood glucose levels. When sugar levels in the blood and urine are high, the genitals are more prone to bacterial and yeast infections, upping the risk for UTI.

Skin is constantly itchy

A skin condition is clearly a dermatological issue right, how can it relate to blood sugar? This is a common thought as a large number of people are still unaware of the connection of sugar levels and skin health. High sugar levels can slow down the blood and oxygen circulation in the body, leading to an increase in itchiness especially around the hands, feet and genital areas. If you notice any rashes or experience constant itchiness which doesn’t seem to subside after a couple of days, it may be time to check your sugar levels.

Your TV volume is louder than before

One of the least known symptoms of pre-diabetes is often changes in hearing levels. Without realising you may find yourself talking louder so as to encourage people to talk back at a louder volume. The volume of your music station may be set a little higher than before cause your hearing isn’t as good. In a country as noisy as India, it is easy to attribute this to external sounds. However, it may also be a sign of high blood sugar which can damage the nerves of the inner ear, affecting your ability to hear.

Sleep comes with loud snores

Yes, if you find your partner suddenly complaining about your loud snoring (something you swear you don’t do), it may be time to check your sugar levels. A large number of people with higher sugar levels than normal also develop a sleep disorder known as sleep apnea which leads to disturbed sleep, snoring and often tiredness during the day.

So while it is advisable to look out for common pre-diabetes symptoms, it is essential not to ignore any of the above-mentioned signs either as enable timely diagnosis, it is recommended to get a timely diagnosis and treatment from a Diabetologist, as Prediabetes with proper treatment and lifestyle changes can be reversed.

To #ReversePrediabetes,

Visit www.lifespanindia.com
Call 1800 3000 1893