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Last Updated on February 13, 2023 by Alaina
There are approximately 100 million adults in the USA with diabetes or pre-diabetes if you’re one of these people you’re in good company. But, that doesn’t mean borderline diabetes is a good thing.
Borderline diabetes means you’re at risk of developing type 2 diabetes or even type 1. Discovering you’re a borderline diabetic means you have a chance to adjust your lifestyle and diet. This can, potentially, prevent the onset of diabetes.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is when your body can no longer produce enough insulin to deal with sugar intake. You can also be producing insulin but your body is no longer able to utilize it correctly.
According to FreeStyle Libre 2, the result is an inability for your body to convert glucose into energy, resulting in high levels of sugar, (glucose), in your blood.
A high blood glucose level makes it more difficult for your body to produce insulin, and although your body will compensate for this, the usual result is an excess of insulin. This leads to insulin insensitivity.
Unfortunately, that’s not all. Sugar is sticky, so when there is too much in your bloodstream it will stick to proteins and fats in your blood, resulting in your blood becoming thicker, more like syrup. This makes all your organs work harder and your body will find it harder to regenerate cells, potentially causing long-term damage to your nerves and even your eyes.
The Symptoms of Borderline Diabetes
By being aware of the symptoms of borderline diabetes you can take steps to change your lifestyle and hopefully prevent it from becoming type 2 diabetes.
Simply committing to reducing the amount of sugar you consume, and 30 minutes of exercise a day, such as walking the dog, can go a long way in helping prevent diabetes.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of borderline diabetes:
- Tiredness
Tiredness is one of the first signs of borderline diabetes; you’ll start to feel tired during the day even if you’ve slept well the night before. This happens because your body is unable to convert the food you consume into energy effectively.
- Weight Loss
Despite eating properly you may find that you’re losing weight. This is again because your body is not absorbing the nutrients properly.
- Frequent Urination
In order for your body to eliminate the excess sugar, you’ll feel the urge to urinate more often. Your kidneys will be working harder than ever to resolve the issue, which can contribute to long term kidney damage.
- Thirst
Of course, because you’re urinating more your body will be dehydrating, you’ll notice you feel thirsty all the time.
- Hunger
Finally, because your body isn’t absorbing the nutrients it needs you’ll be craving food, even if you’ve already eaten!
Monitoring Your Blood Glucose Levels
It’s also a good idea to invest in Freestyle Libre. This clever device will provide continuous monitoring of your blood glucose levels. While it is commonly associated with type 1 diabetics, it can be extremely useful to those diagnosed with borderline diabetes.
It works by constantly monitoring your blood glucose levels and sending the information to an app. You’ll be able to see when it is getting too high, or too low. You can even use it to see if the changes in your diet and lifestyle are being effective.
If you are a borderline diabetic, reducing and controlling your blood glucose levels can help to prevent you from developing diabetes.
In Conclusion
While discovering you’re a borderline diabetic is never a good thing, it does mean you have a chance to prevent the onset of diabetes. By being aware of the warning signs, making some simple changes in your lifestyle and diet, and adopting healthy habits, you can hopefully prevent borderline diabetes from becoming full-blown diabetes.
*I am not a doctor and this post is in no way to be taken as medical advice. If you have a health issue, speak with your doctor.