November is National Diabetes Awareness Month so at Superior Spine Care we thought it would be the PERFECT opportunity to discuss the benefits of physical therapy for treating prediabetes.
Prediabetes: The Good News & Bad News
Prediabetes, also called impaired glucose tolerance, is a condition in which blood sugar is high but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.
Good News About Prediabetes
A diagnosis of prediabetes can actually be good news because progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes does not have to be inevitable. Getting a prediabetes diagnosis gives the patient time for intervention and with proper treatment and lifestyle changes can bring blood sugar levels to normal.
Bad News About Prediabetes
Eighty-six million Americans now have prediabetes—that’s 1 out of 3 American adults! What’s worse is that 9 out of 10 of them don’t even know they have it. There are no symptoms for many people with prediabetes and without intervention many people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes in 5 years or less, which is why it is critical to ask your physician about blood glucose screening.
It is so important to be tested for prediabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that blood glucose screening for adults begin at age 45, or sooner if you are overweight and have additional risk factors for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Risk factors include:
- Family history – if you have a parent or sibling with diabetes or prediabetes
- Gestational diabetes – if you had gestational diabetes while pregnant
- Weight – if you’re overweight or obese your risk of being prediabetic is higher
Could You Have Prediabetes?
Exercise & Physical Therapy for Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a reversible condition, and with the help of your physician and an effective diet and exercise program, you can decrease the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle changes such as weight loss equivalent to 7% of body weight paired with moderate physical activity, 150 minutes per week, can reduce the risk of diabetes by as much as 58% (Lifestyle Interventions for Patients With and at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis)
However, many times our patients relay to us that “changing your lifestyle” sounds a lot easier than it actually is and that’s why they count on our Physical Therapist, Chrissy Frey, MSPT. Rather than just telling you to “go be more active” Chrissy starts out with a thorough assessment of your strength, flexibility and balance in order to create an individualized treatment program that will have you moving more, performing exercises safely, improving flexibility to make movements more enjoyable and strengthening your muscles to help transition you into a more active lifestyle without injury.
Call our office today to schedule a consultation and initial patient evaluation, fill out our appointment form, or read more about our Physical Therapy services, including physical therapy patient reviews.
