The statistics on type 2 diabetes are shocking — over 38 million Americans live with diabetes, a condition of high blood sugar, and 90-95% of them have type 2. Type 1 diabetes is typically diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, whereas the majority of people with type 2 diabetes are diagnosed as adults. Simply being 35 years of age or older puts you at higher risk for type 2.
Serious complications are associated with type 2 diabetes, including heart disease, kidney disease, vision loss, and more. Having diabetes also doubles your risk for stroke.
Prediabetes is a precursor to diabetes — when your blood sugar is elevated, but not high enough to warrant a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. The critical thing to know is that lifestyle changes can help you normalize your blood sugar levels.
At Nu Wave Medical Center, Dr. Gurprit Sekhon helps people with prediabetes adopt healthier habits and avoid a full-blown diabetes diagnosis. Her commitment to Floridians at risk for type 2 diabetes is unwavering. Dr. Sekhon wants to do all she can to stem rising numbers of our state’s residents grappling with type 2 diabetes complications — currently over two million.
Type 2 diabetes develops when your body becomes resistant to the hormone insulin or can’t use it properly. Insulin is the lynchpin that carries the sugar glucose across cell membranes and into cells, where it’s converted into fuel in the mitochondria.
Resistance means that glucose accumulates to unhealthy levels in the blood, setting the stage for the serious complications we mentioned.
Prediabetes is a warning sign that says ‘Diabetes is in your future if you don’t make changes.’ Unfortunately, prediabetes is subtle, since there aren’t noticeable symptoms.
As with diabetes, the numbers of people living with prediabetes are startling — more than 98 million — yet they have no idea.
Fortunately, Dr. Sekhon has special expertise in diagnosing and treating prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. If you’re struggling with blood glucose levels, she provides critical education about what you can do to reverse your direction and avoid developing diabetes.
Increasing your physical exercise is important for normalizing your blood sugar levels, but this doesn’t mean you’re sentenced to hours of torture at the gym.
You can fit 150 minutes of movement in per week — the minimum recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — just by engaging in activities you enjoy.
Simply walking your dog, raking the yard, jumping on your bike, or cleaning to energetic music all count toward your weekly minute total.
Eating a diet rich in fruits and non-starchy vegetables, legumes, lean proteins like chicken and fish, healthy fats like olive oil and avocados, and whole grains is a powerful way to lower your blood sugar and combat the onset of diabetes.
Steer clear of simple carbohydrates (think white pasta and bread), sweets like cookies and cakes, soda, and anything ultra-processed.
Losing unwanted pounds is pivotal in helping to turn prediabetes around. Diet and regular exercise are the keys to successful weight loss, but if losing weight is challenging, Dr. Sekhon offers medically supervised weight loss. This helps you succeed, even if other weight loss attempts have had mixed results.
And even losing a bit of weight goes a long way toward reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes. For example, shedding just 7% of your weight cuts your risk by a whopping 58%!
You help even out your blood glucose levels when you get sufficient amounts of high-quality sleep. It can be challenging with our busy lives, but creating an easy bedtime routine, turning off tech at a certain hour, and creating a calming bedroom environment all help you avoid sleepless nights.
No one is immune to the effects of stress, but we need to learn to manage it effectively.
Here again, good eating, exercise, and sleep habits help combat stress, as do getting outside in nature, engaging in activities you love with people you enjoy, and doing something mindful, like meditation.
As Dr. Sekhon’s patients, we thoroughly monitor your overall health during your annual physical, and we help manage any health complications we diagnose. Follow Dr. Sekhon’s recommendations and treatment plan if you live with conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other chronic conditions.
We can help you dodge the bullet of diabetes by getting your prediabetes under control. November is National Diabetes Month, as well, so it’s the perfect time to call our office at 850-493-6948 to schedule an appointment.
