What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes, or non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, means that your blood sugars are higher than usual, but not high enough for you to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
How should I manage my prediabetes?
People with pre-diabetes are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but the risk can be reduced through lifestyle changes.
It is recommended that people with prediabetes:
- manage their weight
- eat a healthy and balanced diet
- be more active
If you want to make lifestyle changes but are unsure how to do so, contact the surgery. We might refer you on to a service that can help support you as you make these changes.
What services can help me?
NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme
The Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, also known as the Healthier You programme, identifies people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and refers them onto a nine-month, evidence-based lifestyle change programme. The Healthier You programme is available both as a face-to-face group service and as a digital service. When referred into the programme, people are free to choose between the two. People on the face-to-face group service receive personalised support to manage their weight, eat more healthily and be more physically active – which together have been proven to reduce a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The digital service offers similar support but through the use of digital tools such as wearable technologies that monitor levels of exercise, apps where users can access health coaches, online peer support groups and the ability to set and monitor goals electronically.
Health and Wellbeing Coach
Health and wellbeing coaches support people to increase their ability to self-manage, motivation levels and commitment to change their lifestyle. They are experts in behaviour change and focus on improving health related outcomes by working with people to set personalised goals and change their behaviours.
Preventing your prediabetes from getting worse
Research has consistently shown that for some people combined lifestyle interventions can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 50% Being at risk doesn’t mean you will definitely develop type 2 diabetes. Now is a great time to start making healthy changes; book a GP appointment to get started now.
To monitor your prediabetes, you will be asked to book a follow up blood test. The practice will contact you when you are due for this.
Additional information
You might find the following information helpful.