A 44% relative risk reduction occurs if treatment for diabetes occurs years before being diagnosed. Pre-Diabetes diagnosis is easy in today's medical world. A fasting blood sugar that is between 110 and 126 is indicative of future diabetes. Additionally, other risk factors significantly increase the risk of diabetes; including obesity, hypertension, or a high level of 'lousy' lipids.
Why treat diabetes before it occurs? Because by the time diabetes is diagnosed, end organ damage may have already occurred; i.e. kidney damage, brain cell damage, cardiovascular damage, eye retina problems.
If it is easy to diagnose and prevents severe ramifcations of the disease; then what are the preventive steps? LIfestyle changes are at the crux of preventing diabetes;
- a diet low in saturated fat and calories,
- daily physical exercise,
- not smoking,
- moderate alcohol intake, and
- weight loss
In addition, medications may also be given if determined there are medical reasons which exist:
- acarbose
- metformin
- rosiglitazone (however, this may cause atrial fibrillation)
Doctors and consumers need to change their resources from treating diabetes only after it occurs. Lives may be saved, and certainly quality of life enhanced, with earlier diagnosis and treatment.
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