PRE-DIABETES

What is Pre-Diabetes or Impaired Glucose Tolerance?

Pre-diabetes is also known as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). This occurs when the glucose (sugar) in your blood is higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes. Pre-diabetes can often lead to type 2 diabetes although changing the amount and type of food that you eat and increasing your physical activity may prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

Your body produces insulin, which is needed to transport glucose from your blood stream to your muscle, liver and fat cells, where it is used for energy. Pre-diabetes means the insulin is not working properly. Excess body fat contributes to this problem by causing resistance to insulin.

People with pre-diabetes have a higher chance of getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

You can halve your chance of getting type 2 diabetes by losing 5-10% of your body weight. You can do this by making healthy food choices and doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Healthy eating and regular physical activity will help to:

• Keep your blood glucose within an acceptable range.

• Reach and maintain a healthy body weight.

• Keep your blood lipids (including cholesterol) within an acceptable range.

• Reduce your blood pressure.

Diabetes New Zealand Healthy Eating Plan

Your blood glucose levels are directly affected by the kind and amount of carbohydrate (starchy foods and sugar) you eat.

Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke is affected by the kind and amount of fat you eat.

People with diabetes do not need to buy special foods or cook separate meals. The whole family can eat the same healthy foods.

• Drink plenty of water and stop drinking fruit juice and sugar-sweetened drinks.

• Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.

• Eat some carbohydrate at each meal, but not too much.

• Stop eating foods high in sugar.

• Choose foods low in fat.

• Follow the Diabetes New Zealand Healthy Plate, in the Diabetes and healthy food choices pamphlet here.

• Match the food you eat to your weight, medications, medical conditions and activity.

 Keep Active Regular physical activity has many benefits:

• Lowers blood glucose levels.

• Makes the body work better.

• Helps with weight control.

• Lowers high blood pressure.

• Relieves stress.

Activities can include brisk walking, biking, swimming, dancing and mowing the lawn. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity each day. More is better but begin gradually and build up slowly.

If you are joining a gym or exercise class talk to your doctor first.

See the Diabetes New Zealand pamphlet Diabetes and physical activity for more information, here.

To stay well:

• Lose weight if you need to.

• Eat healthy food.

• Keep physically active.

• Don’t smoke.

• Have regular health checks.

Remember, everyone in your family can eat the same healthy foods. Children need to have healthy food and plenty of activity from a young age