Prediabetes
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What Is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes generally develops after the body has become less responsive to insulin. In fact, insulin resistance may be present for years before fasting glucose or A1C reaches the prediabetes range. Without intervention, prediabetes can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Does Prediabetes Cause Symptoms?
Prediabetes often has no obvious symptoms, which is one reason it can go undetected. Some people may experience signs associated with insulin resistance or changes in blood sugar, but symptoms are not always present.
One possible sign of insulin resistance is darkened, thickened skin in certain areas of the body, particularly around the neck, armpits, or groin. Other changes in energy, hunger, or weight may have many possible causes and should not be used alone to determine whether you have prediabetes.
Because prediabetes may not cause noticeable symptoms, appropriate blood sugar testing is important, particularly if you have risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.
How I Support Prediabetes Through Nutrition
At Holistic Nutrition Nut, I take a personalized functional nutrition approach to supporting metabolic health. Rather than simply giving you a generic diet plan, I look at the bigger picture to better understand the factors that may be contributing to blood sugar concerns.
I’m Ana Coyle, MS, RDN, FMCP, a registered dietitian and Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. I combine evidence-based nutrition with functional medicine principles, considering nutrition, lifestyle, stress, sleep, gut health, hormones, environmental factors, and other influences that may affect metabolic health.
Your personalized plan may include:
- Functional lab testing: When appropriate, specialty testing can provide additional information about metabolism, nutrient status, hormones, gut health, and other areas that may influence your overall health.
- Personalized nutrition coaching: We work together to develop practical eating strategies that support balanced blood sugar and fit your lifestyle.
- Balanced meals: Nutrition strategies may focus on combining quality carbohydrates with protein, fiber, and healthy fats to support better blood sugar management.
- Metabolic health support: We look beyond blood sugar alone to understand the broader factors that may be affecting your metabolism.
- Lifestyle recommendations: Sleep, movement, stress management, and daily habits can all play a role in metabolic health.
- Progress monitoring: Your plan can be adjusted as your needs, goals, and health information change.
Holistic Nutrition Nut also offers the Metabolic Shift Strategy™. It is designed for people who want to understand why their metabolic markers are changing and take action before those changes progress. We look beyond calories and weight alone to evaluate blood sugar regulation, insulin sensitivity, nutrition, muscle, lifestyle, cardiometabolic markers, and other individual contributors, then build a practical strategy around your results.
Prediabetes does not necessarily mean you will develop type 2 diabetes. Early nutrition and lifestyle changes can help improve blood sugar management and reduce the risk of progression to type 2 diabetes.
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Popular Questions
FAQs About Prediabetes
Blood glucose and A1C can return to a normal range for many people, particularly when changes are made early. I prefer to think beyond simply “reversing” a lab value, however. The goal is to improve the underlying metabolic environment, including: insulin sensitivity, nutrition, activity, body composition, sleep, and other modifiable factors, so those improvements are more likely to last.
There is no single diet that works for everyone. A personalized nutrition plan may emphasize nutrient-dense foods, adequate protein, fiber-rich carbohydrates, healthy fats, and balanced meals while considering your individual health needs and preferences.
Often, no. Many people with prediabetes do not experience noticeable symptoms, which makes appropriate blood sugar testing especially important.
Functional nutrition can help address nutrition and lifestyle factors that may be contributing to metabolic concerns. At Holistic Nutrition Nut, recommendations are personalized based on your health history, goals, nutrition, lifestyle, and appropriate testing.
Yes. Prediabetes should be taken seriously and monitored by an appropriate healthcare professional. Nutrition support can complement your medical care, but it does not replace diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment from your physician.