Other research suggests a link between sleep apnea and blood sugar control in people with prediabetes.Ī study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that blood sugar levels improved in people with prediabetes after receiving 2 weeks of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for their sleep apnea. The study included people with prediabetes or untreated type 2 diabetes who also had overweight or obesity. Getting adequate sleep and treating sleep apneaĪ study in Diabetes Care found a link between sleeping less than 5 hours a night or over 8 hours a night and higher blood sugar levels. In these studies, people on a low-carb diet received 40–45% of their daily calories from carbohydrates.
Research suggests that low-carb and very low-carb plans help reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Other people with prediabetes may choose a low-carbohydrate eating plan. They eat moderate amounts of poultry, eggs, fish, and dairy. A person on this plan eats plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The Mediterranean diet works well for some people. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says there is no universal eating plan for people with diabetes or prediabetes. They should eat smaller portions of foods high in calories, fat, and sugar. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) recommends a low-fat, reduced-calorie eating plan for people who want to lose weight and prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.Ī person should choose foods that are low in added sugars, saturated fat, and trans fat. Changing dietĬhanging eating habits is a step that may help reverse prediabetes. Other measures may help a person manage or reverse prediabetes. Losing excess weight and exercising regularly are the keys to controlling blood sugar levels. Prediabetes increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, as well as the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Blood sugar levels increase, but not as much as in type 2 diabetes.ĭiabetes can lead to health problems, including: Prediabetes: Cells may become insulin resistant, or the body may start producing less insulin.Type 2 diabetes: Cells stop responding to insulin, which affects their ability to take up glucose from the blood.Without insulin, glucose stays in the blood, leading to high blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes: The body’s immune system attacks cells in the pancreas that make insulin.A hormone called insulin helps cells take up the glucose and use it for energy. Typically, a person’s digestive system breaks down food to produce glucose, which goes into the bloodstream.
Someone with prediabetes has higher blood sugar levels than normal, but the levels are not as high as in diabetes. Another name for blood sugar is blood glucose. Share on Pinterest Westend61/Getty Imagesĭiabetes means that someone’s blood sugar levels are consistently too high.