Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to use sugar that is consumed through food appropriately because of insulin deficiency, so our body doesn’t produce enough insulin. Before diabetes develops, there is a condition that we call pre-diabetes, or at high risk for diabetes or early diabetes, borderline diabetes – are some of the terms that have been used in the past. This condition is where there is still insulin available in the body to store sugar that we eat, but it’s not effective as a normal individual. So, there’s the response of the body is to actually produce more insulin to get the same goal: blood sugar, to be normal. And then over time, as we utilize all of our insulin and that insulin supply is depleted and goes down, then diabetes develops. If someone is diagnosed with pre-diabetes or is told by their doctor that they have a risk of diabetes, the lifestyle changes that could prevent full blown diabetes would be changing lifestyle habits, like sedentary lifestyles and becoming more active, eating less, losing weight, being more attentive to portion control. Many people in the early phases of pre-diabetes or even diabetes can reverse that inability to use insulin effectively, and control their blood sugars.
