What is a borderline diabetic? What are borderline diabetic symptoms? These are very good questions to be asking. A borderline diabetic may also be referred to as a pre-diabetic. Borderline diabetics, or pre-diabetics, have an impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), which means the glucose levels in the bloodstream are higher than normal, but not as high as someone with type-2 diabetes.
Borderline diabetic symptoms are virtually non-existent, as there really are no overt physical symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, it is important to catch the disorder early on. Borderline diabetes is much easier to reverse than full-blown diabetes, which is what borderline diabetes eventually leads to.
Since the symptoms are hard to recognize, if they manifest themselves at all, you have to rely on the risk factors of the disease to determine if you should be tested. Pre-diabetes.com provides the following diabetic borderline risk factors:
- Being overweight or obese
- Being physically inactive
- Having a parent or sibling with diabetes
- Having a family background that is African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander
- Giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, or being diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes which is first found in pregnancy)
- Having or being treated for high blood pressure (above 140/90)
- Having an HDL (good) cholesterol level below 35 mg/dL or a triglyceride level above 250 mg/dL
- Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Having an impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
- Having any conditions associated with insulin resistance
- Having a history of cardiovascular disease
Having any of the conditions listed above means that you are at risk of having pre-diabetes. If you have any of these risk factors, and have not been diagnosed as a borderline diabetic or a pre-diabetic, you should speak to your doctor about testing your glucose levels. One advantage of getting tested is that if you are found to have pre-diabetes there is still time to take on a healthier lifestyle and possibly avoid type-2 diabetes later in life.
Borderline Diabetic Diet & Exercise
Both insulin resistance and pre-diabetes can be reversed by taking on a borderline diabetic diet plan and exercise routine, but you must take it seriously. Hopefully, this way you can swing the odds and avoid diabetes completely. If you feel that you are at risk for pre-diabetes, these lifestyle changes can help you as well:
The American Diabetes Association recommends getting your protein from fish such as tuna, cod, catfish, and sardines, but only a few times a week. Seafood such as shrimp, oysters, crab, and lobster are also healthy for you. Skinless poultry and beans are also a good source of protein. Try to eat healthy beans such as vegetarian baked beans and fat-free pinto beans. Eggs, pork, and Canadian bacon are also great sources of protein.
Your meals should be centered on fruits and vegetables. Be sure that the vegetables that you eat are non-starchy. In other words, eat vegetables such as spinach, carrots, broccoli, and green beans, but avoid corn and potato based foods. When eating fruit keep it natural and avoid any with added sugar.
As a rule you must try to avoid as many carbohydrates and sugars as possible. It is highly recommended that you eat whole grains, brown rice, oatmeal, barley, rye, and buckwheat. Avoid refined and enriched wheat flours as well as foods high in saturated fats, trans-fats, and cholesterol. In a diet for a borderline diabetic, it is okay to have ice cream and cake every now and then, but only in small, regulated helpings.
Exercising a minimum of 30 minutes a day is recommended by the ADA. This could mean taking a brisk walk, playing with your kids, bike riding, swimming, or even gardening. The important thing is to stay active as much as possible throughout your day, and be sure to get at least 30 minutes of a heart-rate-raising activity in at least once a day, every day.
