Is prediabetes reversible?
Prediabetes is recognised as a reversible condition. Research shows that prediabetes can be prevented from turning into diabetes for as long as 10 years through lifestyle interventions.
How to reverse prediabetes
There are two main ways that prediabetes can be reversed; with medication, and through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
Prediabetes medication
Metformin may be prescribed to treat prediabetes and stop it from developing into type 2 diabetes. Metformin is a first-line treatment in diabetes and helps to lower blood sugar levels by improving the way the body uses insulin.
Medication shouldn’t be the first line of treatment for prediabetes though. Lifestyle interventions like improving your diet and getting active can be very effective at preventing prediabetes from becoming type 2 diabetes.
How to reverse prediabetes naturally
There are steps you can take to help reverse diabetes naturally, such as changing your diet and increasing your activity levels. Leading a sedentary (inactive) lifestyle is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. So, increasing your activity levels can help to reduce your risk.
You don’t need to invest lots of money in gym memberships or specialist equipment. You can just make small changes every day, such as walking to work instead of driving, using the stairs instead of a lift or escalator, or even doing some gardening or housework.
Exercise helps to increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin and, in combination with a healthy diet, can lessen the body’s demand for the hormone. In turn this can help to reverse diabetes. There’s no specific diet that you should follow if you are at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Instead, it’s about balance and eating the right foods.
For example, foods that are high in fat and low in fibre are linked to the development of diabetes. So, it’s important to make healthy swaps and follow a diet that consists of healthier choices such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats and proteins.