More M'sians Are Being Diagnosed With Prediabetes. What Is It And How Does It Affect You?
Many people live with prediabetes for years and show no clear symptoms.
Published for Nestlé Health Science Malaysia, 10 Dec 2021, 10:58 AM
Many Malaysians are well aware of diabetes, as well as its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
But, have you heard of prediabetes?
As its name suggests, prediabetes is a serious health condition in which a person's blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but are not yet high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes.
It is often considered a gateway condition to Type 2 diabetes. If left undiagnosed and untreated, prediabetes could lead to irreversible long-term damage to your heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys.
According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey, the number of prediabetes cases in Malaysia has increased three-fold, from 8.8% in 2015 to 23.6% in 2019
That's almost a quarter of the population at risk of Type 2 diabetes if left unchecked, undiagnosed, and with no corrective actions taken.
A reason for this increase could be that prediabetes usually does not present any symptoms, which is why most people are unaware that they have the condition. Many people live with prediabetes for years without even realising it, and the condition often goes undetected until serious health problems arise.
So, without any symptoms, how can you tell if you have prediabetes?
The only way to know for sure is by getting a doctor to do a simple blood sugar test for you.
Those with the following risk factors should look into getting tested:
- Overweight (BMI of >23kg/m2) or obese (BMI of >27.5kg/m2)
- Aged 45 years or older
- Has a parent, sibling, or child with Type 2 diabetes (in this case, you're two to six times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes)
- Is physically active less than three times a week
- Has had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or given birth to a baby who weighed more than nine pounds
- Has polycystic ovary syndrome
To assess your risk of developing prediabetes, you can take the Nestlé Health Science prediabetes risk assessment.
Nevertheless, you can take comfort from the fact that prediabetes is a lifestyle disease. As such, it can be delayed, reversed, or even entirely prevented.
Think of the condition as a warning sign — an opportunity to take control of your own health before your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes increases.
Making simple lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and being more active are the most effective interventions for treating or reversing prediabetes.
For example, in The World Journal of Diabetes, it is stated that walking for at least 150 minutes per week was shown to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by approximately 50%.
Dietary management, including meal planning and making healthier food choices, is a crucial part of preventing or reversing prediabetes
To keep the condition at bay, as well as to meet your daily nutritional needs, it's important to eat a variety of food — fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Other vital points to consider in your diet include prioritising carbohydrates with a low glycemic index (GI) and practising portion control.
Associate Professor Dr Barakatun Nisak Mohd Yusof, Deputy Dean and Dietitian, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, UPM, shared, "It's not just how much you eat, but the type of carbohydrates you eat. For people with prediabetes, the body has a challenge managing blood sugar levels after a meal.
"Prioritise carbohydrates with a low GI and practise portion control. Food with a low GI contains carbohydrates that take the body longer to break down, and are less likely to cause a rapid fluctuation in blood sugar levels."
To commemorate World Diabetes Day, Nestlé Health Science has launched a new website dedicated to helping Malaysians beat prediabetes
Aiming to play a critical role in identifying Malaysians at risk of prediabetes and assist them in planning their dietary needs, the newly launched NutrenDiabetes website is a one-stop resource hub for everything you need to know about the condition.
You'll be able to identify your risk level through the website's prediabetes risk assessment tool. Once you do so, you'll get customised meal plan suggestions based on your risk level, consisting of hundreds of delicious recipes.
To complete your journey, the website also offers nutritionally balanced meal replacement solutions from Nestlé Health Science's comprehensive NUTREN range
According to Rachel Liu, Medical Affairs Executive and Dietician at Nestlé Health Science Malaysia, "maintaining a balanced blood sugar level through careful nutritional intake is an essential component of diabetes management.
"As a complete meal replacement solution, NUTREN untuk DIABETIK has a low GI of 28, and contains all the vitamins and minerals to deliver a nutritionally balanced diet, for a balanced meal."
For more information on prediabetes, or to take the risk assessment test and get your personalised meal plan, check out the NutrenDiabetes website today
The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader's own medical care.
