What are Borderline Diabetes Symptoms?

Borderline diabetes, also known as pre-diabetes is a condition that typically develops before progressing to full-blown type 2 diabetes. Also known as glucose intolerance or impaired fasting glucose, it means that although you have higher than normal blood glucose levels, they are not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Overview

If you have borderline diabetes, the pancreas still produces adequate insulin in response to carbohydrates you’ve ingested. However, the amount of insulin produced is still less effective at getting rid of sugar from your bloodstream, so blood sugar levels remain higher than normal. This condition is commonly known as insulin resistance.

If you’ve been diagnosed with borderline diabetes, it’s important to understand that you are not alone. A 2015 study showed that 1 in 3 American adults had the condition. That’s about 84.1 million Americans.

Having borderline diabetes does not necessarily mean you’ll develop diabetes. It’s simply a warning of what could happen in the future. However, people with borderline diabetes have a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes compared to people with normal blood glucose levels. The risk increases if they don’t make healthy lifestyle changes to their activity habits and diet.

 

What are the symptoms of borderline diabetes?

Borderline diabetes does not typically have any clear tell-tale signs or symptoms. However, one possible sign is darkened skin or some parts of the body such as the neck, knuckles, elbows, and knees.

Borderline Diabetes SymptomsSome of the signs and symptoms that may indicate that the condition has progressed from borderline diabetes to type 2 diabetes may include:

  • Excess hunger
  • Blurred vision
  • Frequent urination
  • Fatigue
  • Increased thirst

When should you see a doctor?

It is extremely important to see a doctor if have any concerns about diabetes if you’ve noticed any signs or symptoms of type 2 diabetes or have any risk factors for the condition.

What are the causes of prediabetes?

Although the exact cause of borderline diabetes isn’t known, factors such as genetics and family history play a significant role. Other important factors include excess belly fat, being overweight, and failure to engage in regular physical activity.

However, it’s clear that people with borderline diabetes don’t process blood glucose properly anymore. This results in the accumulation of sugar in the bloodstream instead of being absorbed and used by cells in tissues for energy.

Glucose in our bodies comes from the food we eat. When food is ingested and digested, glucose enters the bloodstream. However, cells require a hormone known as insulin in order to absorb glucose from the bloodstream.

Insulin is produced by a gland called the pancreas which sends insulin to the bloodstream once the food is ingested. Insulin enables cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream, hence lowering the amount of glucose in the blood. When blood sugar levels start to drop, secretion of insulin into the bloodstream is gradually reduced.

For people with borderline diabetes, this process is impaired. Cells may become resistant to insulin or the pancreas may not produce enough insulin. Therefore, instead of acting as fuel for the body, glucose builds up in the bloodstream.

Prediabetes risk factors

Borderline diabetes symptoms and treatmentPrediabetes and type 2 diabetes share the same risk factors. These include:

  • Waist size: If you have a large waist size, it could be a sign of insulin resistance. Men with a waist size of more than 40 inches and women with a waist size of more than 35 inches have a higher risk of insulin resistance.
  • Weight: obesity or being overweight is one of the main risk factors for prediabetes. Having a large amount of fatty tissue, especially between and inside the skin and muscle around your abdomen, increases the risk of your cells becoming resistant to insulin.
  • Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of borderline diabetes. Regular physical activity uses up blood sugar for energy, helps you control your body weight, and makes the cells use insulin more effectively.
  • Diet: Eating processed meat, red meat, and consuming sugar-sweetened drinks, is associated with a higher risk of borderline diabetes. A diet high in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, olive oil, and nuts is associated with a significantly lower risk of borderline diabetes.
  • Age: Diabetes and prediabetes can occur at any age. However, people aged 45 and lower are at a higher risk of prediabetes.

Pre diabetic diet food list

  • Ethnicity or race: Studies show that certain people, including Hispanic, Black, Asian American, and American Indians are at a higher risk of developing prediabetes

Borderline diabetic diet

  • Family History: People who have a sibling or parent with type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of prediabetes.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome: Women suffering from this condition, which is often characterized by obesity, excessive hair growth, and irregular menstrual cycles, have an increased risk of prediabetes.
  • Gestational diabetes: In case you had gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant), you and your child have a higher risk of developing prediabetes. If you’ve had diabetes while pregnant, it is extremely important to be screened for prediabetes at least once every two to three years.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea: If you suffer from this condition that disrupts normal sleep repeatedly, you have a higher risk of developing insulin resistance.
  • Tobacco smoke: Smoking increases your risk of carrying more weight around the belly as well as your risk of developing insulin resistance.

Other conditions commonly associated with borderline diabetes include:

  • High levels of triglycerides
  • Low levels of good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol)
  • High blood pressure

These conditions are commonly associated with prediabetes, especially when they occur with being overweight or obesity.

Read more here about recognizing diabetes symptoms!

The bottom-line

79 million people in the United States have pre-diabetes and many people will develop type two diabetes because of their lack of knowledge. Much of this could be stopped if people knew what to look out for and would talk to their doctor.

Once you have noticed symptoms of prediabetes, you can talk to your doctor and see how to reverse it. A borderline diabetes diet may bring you back to normal levels and keep you from getting type 2 diabetes.

If you have borderline diabetes, the damage of diabetes, especially to your kidneys, heart, and blood vessels, may have already started. Nevertheless, the good news is that progression to type 2 diabetes can be prevented or significantly delayed.

There are two tests that the doctor may give you if diabetes or pre-diabetes is suspected. The fasting glucose test and glucose tolerance test are used to determine if you have prediabetes.

Engaging in regular physical activity, staying at a healthy weight, and eating a healthy diet can help lower your blood sugar level back to within the normal range.

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Juvenile Diabetes Association

What does the  Juvenile Diabetes Association Do?

The Juvenile Diabetes Association (JDA) publishes detailed recommendations and guidelines for the management of type 1 diabetes in the form of position statements, consensus statements, and technical reviews.

This mainly includes special considerations, recommendations, and standards of medical care for children and adolescents. Other position statements include age-specific guidelines for screening for retinopathy and neuropathy in juvenile diabetes.

Special care for children with diabetes

What is Juvenile diabetes associationThe JDA has published recommendations regarding certain aspects of juvenile diabetes that apply specifically to children and adolescents while taking into account care at schools and camps.

The main purpose of the Juvenile Diabetes association is to provide a comprehensive resource on current standards of juvenile diabetes care pertaining to pediatric diabetes.

Although it’s not an exhaustive resource on all aspects of care and management of the condition, current works in progress are indicated and relevant resources are provided as such.

Information provided by the Juvenile Diabetes Association is based on relevant evidence from current and published studies and is supported by expert consensus or opinion. Numerous detailed chapters and guidelines on juvenile diabetes are included. Existing texts include those by the Australian Pediatric Endocrine Group and ISPAD (International Society of Pediatric Adolescent Diabetes).

Children and adolescents have needs and characteristics that dictate special standards of care and management. Management of juvenile diabetes must take the differences between various ages into account.

Read about the Signs of Childhood Diabetes HERE!

Importance of Involving Adults in the Management of Juvenile Diabetes

In caring for adolescents and children with juvenile diabetes, professionals recommend that adults be involved in the kid’s diabetes management. School-aged children, as well as adolescents, may be unable to provide their own juvenile diabetes management care independently.

Therefore, it’s essential to provide education about how to care for children as well as adolescents with diabetes to the entire family unit while emphasizing developmentally and age-appropriate care and integrating this into diabetes management. Therefore, adult supervision is important in most aspects and throughout the transition in and out of age-specific care.

  • Diagnosis

Diagnosis of juvenile diabetes is usually a straightforward process largely because most kids with the condition present a history of polydipsia, weight loss, polyphagia, and polyuria with ketonuria, ketonemia, glycosuria, and hyperglycemia. However, in most cases, the physician must document elevated blood glucose levels to diagnose diabetes.

  • Initial care

The main determinants of where, how, and who provides the initial education and care are the age of the child, clinical severity at presentation, the ability to provide education, and the proximity of the child to tertiary care centers.

Ideally, newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes should be evaluated by a team consisting of a nurse educator, a mental health professional, a dietitian, and a pediatric endocrinologist qualified to provide pediatric-specific support and education.

Unfortunately, such systems are unavailable in most areas and circumstances. However, nowadays the use of telemedicine is beginning to allow the expertise of pediatric centers to improve the care of juvenile diabetes patients in remote regions.

Regardless of the primary and secondary source of care, all providers should understand the stages of juvenile diabetes and how they affect the management of the condition. Moreover, they should understand different management approaches to juvenile diabetes.

  • Diabetes education

Studies in patients with juvenile diabetes show that factors such as family and patient education, close contact with diabetes teams, and delivery of comprehensive diabetes case management are associated with reduced complications, hospitalizations overall costs, and emergency room visits.

The educational program should be personalized to the specific needs of the child, culturally sensitive, and designed to accommodate the needs of the child and family.  The patient’s sibling (s) should also be taken into consideration as they may feel sidelined due to the increased attention paid to the affected child as a result of the new diagnosis.

Proper juvenile diabetes education for the patient and family is complex and intense and requires diabetes educators with skills including compassion, good communication, humor, in-depth knowledge of type 1 diabetes, and sensitivity.

  • Identification

diabetes BraceletsPersons with diabetes should always wear, an ID (identification) that clearly identifies them as having diabetes. Identification is particularly important for school-going children and adolescents who are often away from parents’ and teachers’ supervision and may even be driving or operating machinery.

juvenile diabetes association

Children who are active in sports are a case in point, and it is essential for coaches to be aware of their condition and the signs and proper treatment of hypoglycemia. Bracelets and necklaces are readily available from various organizations and major pharmacies.

Toddlers with diabetes can wear shoe identification tags which may be useful in case of emergencies. Wallet cards are not adequate because they could easily be missed by caregivers or paramedics.

Learn how Vitamin D can help Juvenile Diabetes HERE!

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Top 6 Diabetic Neuropathy Treatments to Ease Your Nerve Pain

What is Diabetic Nerve Pain?

One of the most common complications of diabetes is damage to the autonomic or peripheral nerves, commonly known as neuropathy. Besides causing losses in the motor and sensory function, diabetic neuropathy can also lead to foot ulcers and debilitating pain which may lead to amputation.

Although conventional treatment of neuropathy is limited to good nail and foot hygiene, early detection of ulcers, and the use of strong pain killers such as opioids and antiepileptics, studies have found that some nutritional supplements are capable of reversing diabetic neuropathy.

  1. Acetyl-L-Carnitine – A Neuropathy Supplement

Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a nutritional supplement that can bring relief to diabetic neuropathy sufferers. Studies show that patients who are treated with Acetyl-L-Carnitine show significant improvement in NCV (nerve conduction velocity), pain, and amplitude.

The greatest improvements in nerve conduction velocity are usually seen in the motor peroneal nerve, the sensory ulnar nerve, and in the sensory sural nerve. On the other hand, the greatest change in amplitude was in the mortal peroneal nerve. Besides improving nerve function, acetyl-l-carnitine also stimulates nerve fiber regeneration. Take 500 mg to 1000 mg per day.

  1. Alpha Lipoic Acid

This extraordinary antioxidant has been shown to improve numbness, burning, diabetic pain, and other symptoms of neuropathy. Antioxidants have proven to be very important particularly because diabetes unleashes free-radical damage in the body which leads to nerve and vascular damage that underlines various diabetic complications. Take 600 mg to 1200 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid per day.

  1. Biotin for Diabetic Nerve Pain Relief

High doses of biotin may improve the symptoms and complications of diabetic neuropathy within 5 to 8 weeks. This is attributable to enzyme pyruvate carboxylase which is biotin-dependent and it helps prevent the depletion of aspartate and the accumulation of pyruvate. Both play very important roles in nervous system function.

  1. Exercise and Physical Therapy Treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy

One of the best ways to manage diabetes symptoms is exercise because it helps patients maintain a healthy weight, control high blood pressure, and blood sugar symptoms, improve range of motion and increase strength in addition to other numerous benefits of regular exercise.

The Journal of Diabetes Complications published a study in 2012 that found that exercise increased intra-epidermal nerve fiber branching and also caused a significant reduction in pain and other diabetic neuropathic symptoms. You can work your way up gradually to exercising for about 30 to 60 minutes per day, doing different low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, and cycling. treatment for Diabetic neuropathy

This will lower blood glucose and help your body respond to exercise better. On the other hand, exercise helps protect nerves by lowering stress, reducing cholesterol, and improving circulation which can increase inflammation by raising your glucose levels.

Physical therapy is also very important in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy –  because it improves daily functioning by increasing mobility and muscle strength. You can talk to your doctor or physical therapist about any pain you might be experiencing so they can recommend special orthopedic shoes and inserts, which will improve your ability to get around by reducing the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

  1. Capsaicin Cream

Capsaicin cream blocks pain signals by using ingredients found in hot pepper. However, you should keep in mind that capsaicin products can cause skin irritation in some patients. Capsaicin cream is also available as a patch, jelly, or lotion and you can simply apply the cream to areas where diabetic pain is strong in order to relieve pain.

You should talk to your physician before using any treatments based on capsaicin because some capsaicin products can cause dangerous side effects on sensitive or irritated skin and opens sores.  The skin might also be more sensitive to different sources of heat including the sun. Therefore, it’s extremely important to avoid excessive exposure to heat or sunlight when using capsaicin lotions and creams.

  1. Lower Diabetic Nerve Pain Naturally

In case you have already developed diabetic neuropathy and are looking for effective ways to improve daily function and lower pain, you’ll be very glad to learn that various natural ingredients can help. Several anti-oxidants and antioxidants lower pain and stop nerve damage from progression. These natural remedies include:Diabetic nerve pain medication

  • Evening primrose oil: This anti-inflammatory helps lower burning, tingling, and neuropathy numbness. You can take 360 milligrams of evening primrose oil daily.
  • Chromium picolinate: It improves insulin sensitivity. Patients should take 360 milligrams per day.
  • Cinnamon: Helps stabilize blood glucose. Try using cinnamon oil and add 1 or 2 teaspoons to your meals daily.
  • Vitamin B12: Most diabetes patients seem to be low in this vital nutrient, which worsens nerve damage.

These natural treatments for diabetic neuropathy have proven to be highly effective and reliable. However, it can take some time for diabetic neuropathy to see improvements. Therefore, it’s extremely essential to be patient and try various different combinations until you find true relief.

More information on Diabetic Nerve Pain and how to treat it.

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Diabetes Patches for Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring

Post Updated: 27th March 2023

Managing diabetes can be challenging largely because you not only have to watch what you eat but also keep track of your blood sugar levels. People who need insulin have to stick their fingers and give themselves shots several times each day. However, thanks to technology, diabetic patches for continuous blood glucose monitoring can make it more convenient and easier to live with diabetes.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems offer a significant advantage for people with diabetes, compared to traditional blood glucose monitoring methods. The CGM system is a device that measures blood sugar levels continuously throughout the day, typically every 5-10 minutes, providing a more detailed view of a person’s glucose levels over time.

Are diabetic patches reliable?

Not all of these diabetic patches have been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Reliable patches that have been approved by the FDA are designed to closely monitor blood glucose levels. Therefore, diabetic patches are not just fancy patches or stickers. They are an integral part of diabetes management. They have been tested and approved by the FDA to make sure they are safe.

However, some nonprescription “diabetic patches” sold at some online drug stores are very different. They claim to treat diabetes symptoms with herbs that are delivered through the skin. There’s no scientific evidence that they actually work. In fact, there is insufficient research on them.

Continuous blood glucose monitoring systems.

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With these systems, people living with diabetes stick a sensor on their skin. Then they use devices that work with the sensors.

CGM patches

blood glucose plasterIn some cases, patients use their smartphones to scan the sensor. These sensors show real-time information about blood glucose, including daily level patterns.

Most continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs) report blood glucose levels every 5 minutes amounting to a total of 288 blood sugar readings a day. CGMs are designed to help you make informed decisions about various aspects of the condition such as exercise and food choices. They alleviate the guesswork surrounding daily blood sugar fluctuations and patterns.

How does it work?

Most continuous glucose monitoring systems consist of 3 main parts:

  • Sensor wire

This is a tiny wire that is inserted just under the skin, usually on the abdomen or arm. The sensor wire uses an applicator to measure interstitial glucose levels automatically, rather than measuring glucose found in the blood from your veins. An adhesive patch holds the patch firmly in place.

  • Transmitter

The transmitter is attached to the wire sensor. It sends blood glucose data to the receiver every few minutes. The transmitter uses wireless technology to send data to the receiver.

  • Receiver

The receiver displays blood glucose levels, patterns, and trends.

Some continuous glucose monitoring systems use Bluetooth technology to transmit blood sugar information to compatible tablets and smartphones. This helps bypass the need for standalone receivers. Some CGMs can also be combined with insulin pumps.

Other devices include cloud-based reporting systems that transmit glucose information via the cloud to up to 5 selected recipients, such as a medical provider, caregiver, or parent.

Moreover, this allows doctors to easily access the information, hence facilitating the tracking of trends and displaying patterns in graphical form for analysis.

Some devices also allow users to input information about snacks, meals, physical activity, and medication to further help with the analysis and tracking of blood glucose trends.

Continuous glucose monitoring patchesPros

Here are some benefits of using a CGM system for people with diabetes:

  • Improved quality of life: CGM systems reduce the need for fingerstick tests and manual logging of glucose readings, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient. CGM systems also provide individuals with more flexibility in their daily activities and reduce the fear of hypoglycemia.
  • Helping detect patterns and trends in glucose levels. CGMs show dips and spikes in blood sugar when is inconvenient to check blood glucose levels frequently.
  • Better communication with healthcare providers: CGM systems provide healthcare providers with more comprehensive data on an individual’s glucose levels, allowing for more targeted treatment plans and better overall management of diabetes.
  • CGMs help clarify the effects of exercise and diet on blood glucose levels.
  • Early detection of high and low blood sugar: CGM allows individuals to detect high or low blood sugar levels earlier than traditional monitoring methods, which can help prevent serious complications such as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
  • Most importantly, CGMs help to enhance security and confidence by helping you understand your diabetes better. It can give you more confidence in the way you manage your diabetes and help you achieve tangible results.
  • It is also comforting to get a clear picture of how your glucose levels are trending. This allows you to go for gym sessions or walks without fearing spikes or dips and to reach both your diabetes and fitness health goals efficiently.

CGM MonitorCons

Despite the advantages, CGMs also have their limitations that should be taken into consideration:

  • Although continuous glucose monitoring systems deliver readings automatically, twice-daily finger sticks are necessary to calibrate the device for accuracy.
  • CGMs often display lower blood sugar readings compared to intravenous blood sugar.
  • CGM devices are expensive and require a prescription to get one.

Who should use continuous glucose monitoring systems?

According to the Endocrine Society Guidelines, CGMs should be used by type 1 diabetes patients with A1C levels above 7%. It is also important to understand the technology used by CGMs to reap maximum benefits.

Intermittent use of CGMs is usually appropriate for patients with hypoglycemic unawareness (inability to identify the signs and symptoms of dips in blood glucose levels), overnight hypoglycemia, or intensive insulin therapy (tight blood sugar control). Some of the FDA-approved CGMs include Dexcom G5, Dexcom G6, Freestyle Libre, and Medtronic Guardian Connect.

The bottom line:

The continuous glucose monitoring system is a valuable tool for people with diabetes, providing real-time data that helps individuals make more informed decisions about their diabetes management, leading to better glucose control, improved quality of life, and better communication with healthcare providers.

Read about the top 5 companies developing non-invasive glucose monitors HERE!

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Is the 5:2 Diet Suitable as a Diabetes Diet Plan?

diabetes diet plan, diabetic diet planWhen faced with having to choose the right diabetes diet plan the 5:2 diet is one you should not ignore. The plan itself is what is considered an intermittent fasting diet. What this means is that in a seven-day cycle you would eat normally on five of them but only consume 500-600 calories on the two remaining days in that week.

What Makes This An Ideal Diabetic Meal Plan?

It has been proven in numerous studies that weight loss may actually lessen insulin resistance. If you suffer from type 2 diabetes or have been diagnosed as having borderline or pre-diabetes, weight loss, and reduced insulin resistance would prove beneficial.

Intermittent fasting prediabetes

Another bonus of the intermittent fasting diet is that there are no real strict guidelines related to what you should or should not eat, within reason.

That is when you compare it to any other diabetes diet plan that involves complex calculations based on calorie counting and portion measuring. The only main rule is that on the two reduced-calorie fasting days, you don’t use them back-to-back in a normal seven-day cycle.

Your Diabetic Meal Plan – Intermittent Fasting Has Many Benefits.

diabetes diet plan 5:2 intermittent fasting
Healthy Eating for Diabetics

In addition to weight loss, the 5:2 diet has proven to reduce the number of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol is in the system as well as decrease blood pressure. The insulin resistance reduction that accompanies weight loss is the most important benefit of interest to diabetics.

The insulin sensitivity resulting from intermittent fasting makes this a very good diabetic meal plan option. That being said, there are some cautions to be aware of before choosing this as your diet plan to help with your diabetes.

Things To Watch Out For

Intermittent fasting diabetes type 2Diabetics should first consult with a medical professional to determine if the intermittent fasting diet is the right choice and whether it can be used safely as part of their diabetes therapy.

Also, if you are on insulin there is an additional note of caution. Intermittent fasting may cause a side effect that could result in a higher risk of hypos. This could also happen if you are using certain medications also. If in doubt, check with your doctor first.

The Bottom Line

Weight loss diets have come and gone, as have various tools and regimens designed to help with your diet and weight. For diabetics, the choices are even more reduced with higher risks in most cases. The 5:2 intermittent diet plan is a much easier way to lose weight as it forces your body to use energy stored in your body on reduced-calorie days.

The benefits of this kind of weight loss are many but for diabetics, they include a change in insulin sensitivity.

Intermittent fasting for prediabetes

Essentially, intermittent fasting, as proven through clinical tests, helps you to control your blood sugar levels allowing for safer weight loss through the burning off of fat and stored sugar. And that is what makes this a diabetes diet plan worth exploring further.

If you need some extra help or information on the 5:2 diet, the fasting diet plan, make sure you take a look here.

Intermittent Fasting and type 2 diabetes

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