Prediabetes Diet Plan: Risks, Foods, & Lifestyle Changes

At A Glance: Prediabetes Diet

• Principle: A balanced and nutritious diet comprising vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-glycemic index foods.
• Purpose: To manage prediabetes and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
• Who It Is For: Individuals with high blood sugar levels that may progress to diabetes.
• Duration: Long-term
• Cons: May cause fatigue and tiredness initially.

What Is Prediabetes? What Causes It?

Prediabetes is a condition in which the blood glucose levels are higher than normal (fasting plasma glucose at 7.0) but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Diana Gariglio-Clelland (RD, Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist) says, “Having prediabetes is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Up to 70% of people with prediabetes are estimated to get diabetes in their lifetime, according to an expert panel from the American Diabetes Association.” (5)

What causes prediabetes? Jill Weisenberger (MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND, and Author of Prediabetes: A Complete Guide) explains, “Prediabetes is a sign of a greater metabolic problem involving insulin resistance, loss of insulin production, or both.” Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps lower blood sugar levels.

Mary Wirtz (MS, RDN, CSSD) breaks down the main contributors of prediabetes (6):

• Family history and genetics
• Diet and lifestyle factors (such as physical inactivity, stress, insomnia, drinking too much, and smoking)
• Overweight and obesity as well as undernutrition in case of type 1 diabetes
• Insulin resistance and early beta-cell failure to produce insulin

Did You Know?

According to the CDC, 38% of the US adult population (18 years or older) and 48.8% of people aged 65 years or older have prediabetes (7).

Given that there are so many factors that contribute to developing prediabetes, who is at more risk of developing it? Find out in the following section.

Who Is At More Risk Of Prediabetes?

The CDC mentions a list of people who are more likely to develop prediabetes (2). You may develop prediabetes if:

• You are overweight or obese.
• Have an increased waist size (>40” for men and >35” for women).
• Have a strong family history of diabetes.
• Are over 45 years of age.
• Consume a very processed diet.
• Are physically inactive.
• Smoke regularly.
• Have PCOSⁱ  XA common disorder that affects the functioning of a woman's ovaries, caused by an excess production of male hormones. .
• Have gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).
• Are African-American, Hispanic/Latino-American, American-Indian, Pacific Islander, or Asian-American.

According to a report, the estimated prevalence of prediabetes in 2019 among U.S. adults of age 18 years or more is 96 million (1 in every 3 adults). It was found that men were more at risk of prediabetes (41%) than women (31%) in 2017-2020.

Before you jump to conclusions, you must know the tell-tale signs of prediabetes and how to confirm it. In the following section, you will learn about the symptoms and diagnosis of prediabetes. Scroll down.

Symptoms And Diagnosis

Unlike many other diseases and conditions, prediabetes does not have any symptoms. However, if you have a family history of diabetes or are overweight or obese, have issues with weight management or have PCOS, and are over 45 years of age, it is a good idea to get your blood glucose levels checked. Gariglio-Clelland says, “The most accurate way to diagnose prediabetes is through a hemoglobin A1C test (HBA1C), which measures your average blood sugar over the past 60-90 days. A normal A1C is below 5.7, whereas prediabetes is diagnosed with an A1C of 5.7-6.4 (6.5 is the beginning of the diabetes range).”

If you are diagnosed with prediabetes, switch to a prediabetes diet. A study published in the journal Nature confirms that a poor quality diet poses an increased risk of developing prediabetes (8). A study was conducted on the dietary pattern of 1761 Chinese people of 45-59 years of age for over a year. The researchers concluded that a Western-pattern diet posed a higher risk of prediabetes compared to a diet comprising of grains and vegetables (9).

The prediabetes diet mainly focuses on including foods with a low glycemic index. Knowing more about the glycemic index helps promote mindful eating, which is beneficial for those trying to manage their blood sugar levels. Scroll down to learn more.

What Is The Glycemic Index (GI)?

The glycemic index is a scale that ranks foods on how they affect your blood sugar. It measures how quickly carbohydrates in foods are digested in your body and converted into glucose in the bloodstream. Here are three categories of foods you should know about based on their glycemic index (10):

• High-GI Foods: These include foods like white bread that increase your blood sugar levels significantly.
• Intermediate-GI Foods: These include foods like wholemeal bread that have a moderate impact on blood sugar levels.
• Low-GI Foods: These include foods like legumes that have a minimal impact on blood sugar levels.

A BMJ analysis reports that a low-calorie and low-carbohydrate diet is a promising nutritional intervention for prediabetes (11). What are these foods that are nutritious yet low in calories and carbs? Which foods are high in carbs? Check out the list of prediabetes foods to eat and avoid below.

Prediabetes Diet Foods List As Per Expert Recommendations

Prediabetes diet is all about making smart food choices. Mary Wirtz (MS, RDN, CSSD) advises, “Consider substituting fresh fruit or a handful of almonds for your nightly bowl of ice cream.” She adds, “Also, there are many nutritious foods to include regularly – vegetables, fruits, grains (ideally whole grains, more than 50% of the time), protein including fish, skinless poultry, beans and lentils, low-fat dairy, and healthy fats.”

Jill Weisenberger (MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND, and Author of Prediabetes: A Complete Guide) says, “I always recommend avoiding sugary drinks like sodas and teas. They are linked to an increased risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. I’m a big fan of a Mediterranean-style diet to dial back prediabetes. I also recommend low glycemic index foods like oats and barley because they have the fiber called beta-glucan, which helps improve insulin sensitivity.”  Diana Gariglio-Clelland (RD, Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist) advises limiting sugar-sweetened beverages, refined carbs like sweets, white bread, etc., and focusing on whole foods instead of overly-processed foods that are low in fiber and nutrients.

Keeping the experts’ recommendations in mind, here’s a downloadable list of foods to eat and avoid if you have prediabetes.

Weisenberger also reminds us not to overeat. She says, “Reducing your food intake will lessen insulin resistance even without large amounts of weight loss. For those people who are overweight or obese , I recommend aiming to lose 5-7% of your starting weight.” Also, practice portion control to get maximum benefits. Also don’t eat when not hungry and eat when you are. Listen to your body. But if you are not sure how to design your diet, here’s a sample diet chart and a 7-day meal plan for prediabetes to get you started. Take a look!

Sample Prediabetes Diet Chart

One may also add apple cider vinegar to the diet as it helps manage blood glucose greatly.

7-Day Meal Plan For Prediabetes

Apart from healthy eating, you must also tweak your lifestyle. Here’s a list of favorable lifestyle changes that can help reverse prediabetes.

 Prediabetes Lifestyle Changes

Data suggests that lifestyle changes decrease the risk of prediabetes progressing to diabetes for about 10 years (12)! Here are the recommended lifestyle changes:

• Exercise Regularly

Exercising is extremely beneficial if you are overweight, obese, or have PCOS. The American Diabetes Association confirms that exercising helps manage blood glucose levels (13). Working out also helps burn calories and improves fitness, balance, limb and eye coordination, reflex, and flexibility. Most importantly, exercising regularly helps release endorphinsⁱ  XChemicals the body releases in response to stress or pain to reduce discomfort and increase pleasure. that improve your mood and mental wellbeing.

Choose an exercise routine that you love, have fun doing, and can adhere to. If you love sports, play sports to stay active. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends engaging in 30 minutes of brisk walking or an exercise of your choice daily to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (2). You can choose running, swimming, dancing, bodyweight exercises, weight lifting, HIIT, kickboxing, etc. There is no one-size-fits-all here. Mix up your workout routine (cardio and strength training every alternate day) to get the maximum output.

• Sleep Well

Poor sleeping habits, not getting enough sleep, and sleep disorders are closely related to developing diabetes. Scientists believe a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, increased food intake, insulin resistance, and overuse of alcohol are interlinked with poor sleep quality and diabetes risk (14).

This is another reason to exercise regularly and eat healthily. Rebalancing the hormones, reducing inflammation and hunger hormones, and improving mental wellbeing are key to improving your sleep (15), (16). Turn off your electronic gadgets, read a book, and maintain a strict bedtime to sleep well.

Did You Know?

According to the CDC, an adult should get 7 or more hours of sleep per night to stay healthy (17).

• Manage Stress

A study found a significant association between hypertensionⁱ  XA condition characterized by abnormally high blood pressure levels that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other issues. , physical activity, BMI, and diabetes. Scientists found that moderate to high stress levels caused a 2.3-fold increase in the odds of diabetes three years later (18). Reducing stress comes with practice and patience.

For starters, exercise to release the beneficial endorphins. Gradually get into practicing meditation. Pick up a hobby and learn a new skill to keep yourself occupied. Keep short-term goals and reward yourself for every milestone you achieve.

These are the main lifestyle changes that can help you reverse prediabetes and prevent it from progressing to full-blown diabetes. However, are dietary and lifestyle interventions enough? Scroll down to know more.

Are Food And Lifestyle Changes Enough To Reverse Prediabetes?

Food and lifestyle changes are effective most of the time. However, factors leading to prediabetes are complex, and different people respond differently to dietary and lifestyle interventions. Wirtz agrees. She says, “Each individual is truly different, though it [diet and lifetsyle] plays a large role in helping to prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes.”

Ken Berry, a doctor, shared his experience of reversing prediabetes. He said, “I got rid of all the junk food. I started eating lots of whole grains and lots of fruits and vegetables. I started jogging 3 or 4 days a week (i).”

The best way to know if you are responding to nutritional therapy and lifestyle change intervention is to get your blood glucose checked every four weeks. Talk to your doctor to see if you need to go on medications.

Infographic: 4 Lifestyle Changes You Need To Make If You Have Prediabetes

If you want to reduce the risk of diabetes, it is essential for you to take certain steps. These steps include making some lifestyle changes so that your prediabetes does not progress into full-blown diabetes in a matter of months. Check out the infographic below to know more about the lifestyle changes that you should implement to prevent a swift progression to type 2 diabetes.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to go from prediabetes to normal?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that it takes about 3-10 years to reverse the effects of prediabetes. Strict dietary and lifestyle changes are required to control your blood sugar levels.

Is coffee OK for prediabetes?

Yes. A study found that long-term coffee consumption may be linked with a lower risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (19). However, avoid adding sugar to your coffee.

Is avocado good for prediabetes?

Yes. Avocados have relatively low sugar and carbohydrate content and consuming them does not spike blood sugar levels.

Is peanut butter good for prediabetes?

Yes. Peanuts and peanut butter are low GI and GL foods, and they contain beneficial nutrients that help manage blood sugar levels.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Learn how to reverse pre-diabetes with an effective diet plan! Check out this video to know about the best foods that can help you get back on track in no time. Get started today!

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Garima SinghMSc (Nutrition), DNHE, DDHN

   

Garima Singh is a certified nutritionist and dietitian with over 7 years of experience. She provides both in-office and virtual consultations and works with individuals, groups, offices, and schools. She has a passion for cooking foods in a way to make them healthy as well as palatable. Her services include diet plans, health counseling, and workouts.more

Charushila BiswasHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Charushila is an ISSA certified Fitness Nutritionist and a Physical Exercise Therapist. Over a span of 6 years, she has authored more than 400 articles on diet, lifestyle, exercises, healthy food, and fitness equipment. She strives to inform, educate, and motivate her readers via authentic, straightforward, and fact-checked information. After completing her master's in biotechnology from Vellore Institute of Technology,...more

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Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a senior editor and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over eight years. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University. He has written over 300 articles about ingredients and their benefits for the skin, hair, and health. He...more

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Sindhu Koganti is a Certified Health and Nutrition Life Coach and has over 6 years of experience in writing on health and wellness topics. She has a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, and a diploma in nutrition from Fab Academy. After her graduation, she decided to combine her knowledge of science and love for writing to...more