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Can prediabetes be reversed?

Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS

Yes, and this is one of the best-proven facts in preventive medicine. Losing 5 to 7 percent of body weight and walking briskly most days cuts progression to diabetes by more than half.

The mechanics are simple: less visceral fat means the body listens to its own insulin again. Protein at breakfast, vegetables and protein before carbs at meals, a 10 minute walk after the biggest meal, and consistent sleep all pull in the same direction.

Recheck HbA1c in three to six months to see the result in numbers. Many people watch themselves cross back into the normal range.

If you are buying a meter

Any major-brand glucose meter is accurate enough for home tracking. The real cost is the strips, so compare strip prices before choosing the meter.

See glucose meters and strips

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