You’ve just been to your annual physical and your “A1C is elevated” or your “blood glucose levels are high” and the doctors says you have “Pre-Diabetes.” These are all new words and they seem pretty scary. Maybe it happened to you, maybe it was someone you love, but either way, here are a few things I have learned:
- Think {DIET and] EXERCISE
- Get Your Body Moving! I’m not a seasoned athlete! BUT, I’ve been told that losing just 10 pounds can help lower my blood sugar levels. I don’t feel inclined to run a marathon or join an expensive gym! But I can get started with something simple. I put on my BANDI; get a good podcast, a book on tape, or a music playlist and GO FOR A WALK right in my neighborhood. I try to create a routine and make time 5 days a week to walk for 30 minutes or more. Sometimes I park further away at the grocery store, or take the stairs rather than the elevator to burn calories. i can always increase my level of activity later.
- Build your Muscle Mass! Muscle is one of the major insulin sensitive tissues in the body. I learned of my “pre-diabetic” situation just after turning 55, after a back injury that slowed me down, when I was losing muscle strength from less activity. There is a relationship between muscle mass and insulin resistance that is beyond me to explain, but I do understand that if I use some hand weights when I walk or watch TV, or do more yoga, I can begin to rebuild muscles and protect my body against insulin resistance and improve my metabolism.
NEXT UP: What I know about Pre-Diabetes #2: Think DIET [and Exercise]
