Prediabetes is a prevalent concern, impacting nearly 10% of the population as of 2021. This precursor to type 2 diabetes brings along various health risks, from obesity to heart disease and beyond. The good news? Prediabetes is reversible through lifestyle changes, particularly in diet. If you've been on the journey to reverse prediabetes, here are nine signs that indicate you're on the right track.
1. Feel Full After Meals
Experiencing satisfaction after meals is a promising indicator of improved blood sugar control. As prediabetes reverses, your body becomes more sensitive to insulin, regulating blood sugar levels effectively. Feeling full after eating signals that your body is efficiently extracting energy from your food, a positive step towards balancing blood sugar.
2. Skin Tags Shrinking: A Natural Response to Lowered Insulin
Skin tags, often associated with high insulin levels, tend to diminish as prediabetes reverses. Contrary to popular belief, skin tags are not solely caused by friction; they are linked to insulin imbalance. Lowering insulin, a key aspect of prediabetes reversal, can naturally shrink and eliminate skin tags without the need for medical removal.
3. Triglycerides Decreasing
Monitoring your blood lipid profile, specifically triglycerides, provides insights into prediabetes progress. High triglycerides are a symptom of prediabetes, and witnessing a decrease is a positive sign. This emphasizes the importance of regularly checking your cholesterol panel to assess the status of prediabetes.
4. HDL Increasing
On the flip side, an increase in HDL cholesterol levels is another positive sign during prediabetes reversal. HDL, the protective cholesterol, is typically lower in individuals with prediabetes, putting them at a higher risk of heart-related issues. Witnessing an elevation in HDL levels indicates positive changes in your metabolic health.
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5. Waistline Shrinking
A shrinking waistline, independent of weight loss on the scale, signals progress in prediabetes reversal. Visceral fat stored around the midsection is directly associated with prediabetes and elevated insulin. Improving insulin sensitivity is the key to losing this stubborn fat and witnessing a reduction in your waistline.
6. Clearer Skin
Surprisingly, your skin can reveal a lot about your internal health. Clearer skin can be an indication that prediabetes is improving, as better blood sugar control reduces inflammation and associated skin irritation.
7. Better Sleep
Prediabetes, with its impact on blood sugar balance, can disturb sleep patterns. Improved sleep quality, including falling asleep easier and reduced nighttime urination, is a positive sign that your blood sugar is heading in the right direction.
8. Fewer Sugar Cravings
Experiencing fewer sugar cravings is another indicator that prediabetes is improving. As your body becomes more efficient in using energy, the intense cravings for sugar that often accompany prediabetes diminish.
9. Regular Periods (for Women)
For women, a regular menstrual cycle is a noteworthy sign of blood sugar balance and improvements in prediabetes. The hormonal imbalance caused by high insulin levels can lead to irregular periods. As prediabetes improves, menstrual cycles tend to become more regular.
Watching out for these signs in your health monitoring can provide valuable insights into the progress of prediabetes reversal.
