Whether you have elevated blood sugar numbers and have been told youre borderline diabetic, or you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, chances are youve heard the phrase: prediabetes. While receiving a diagnosis of prediabetes isnt necessarily a sign that you will eventually develop type 2 diabetes, its a good indicator that something is going on internally. And for some people, recognizing prediabetes symptoms can lead to making major changes (like dietary and overall lifestyle) to help them avoid moving from the pre-diabetic stage to type 2 diabetes.

While high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) definitely has some telltale signs, not everyone will be able to recognize the signs of prediabetes. We spoke with two endocrinologists to find out prediabetes symptoms and preventative measures you could be taking to help mitigate your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes refers to blood sugar (plasma glucose) levels that are higher than normal but do not meet the criteria for types of diabetes, explains Aleem Kanji, M.D., Endocrinologist, Ethos Endocrinology, PLLC. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) considers people who meet one of three specific criteria to be prediabetic:

Those diagnosed with prediabetes may have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease, explains Dr. Kanji. Prediabetes can remain unrecognized for years, he says. Prompt diagnosis and treatment [are] necessary to prevent the progression to diabetes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. If you think youre suffering from prediabetes, you should reach out to your primary care physician to talk about your symptoms and testing options immediately.

Unfortunately, there is no checklist when it comes to determining if youre experiencing some of the early signs of diabetes because prediabetes does not have any overt (or clinically obvious) symptoms, according to Benjamin U. Nwosu, M.D., Chief of Endocrinology, Cohen Childrens Medical Center in New York, and Researcher at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research.

That can make it hard for the average person to know if their blood sugar has reached those concerning markers without the aid of a blood test. Considering how significantly a diabetes diagnosis can change a persons day-to-day lifestyle, that can be worrisome.

That being said, Dr. Kanji says that if your blood sugar is rising enough (and/or frequently enough), you may notice some common hyperglycemia-related symptoms that could raise a red flag in patients.

While not a sign of prediabetes, another type of insulin resistance called acanthosis nigricans, which Dr. Kanji says presents as a darkening of the skin in certain body areas, can be related to prediabetes and is worth mentioning to your healthcare provider.

Prediabetes can serve as a precursor to type 2 diabetes, according to Dr. Nwosu. In patients with prediabetes leading up to type 2 diabetes, he says. The risk factors are obesity, which increases insulin resistance, and a family history of type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Kanji says that in addition to the risk factors mentioned by Dr. Nwosu, environmental causes, age (more specifically those over the age of 45), history of gestational diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome, can all play a role in a persons risk of developing prediabetes.

Prediabetes prevention

Knowing that prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes makes prevention important. We have proof from The Diabetes Prevention Program that prediabetes can be reversed in a population of people through intensive lifestyle changes or Metformin [a drug often used to help treat type 2 diabetes], says Dr. Kanji. Of those who didnt reverse prediabetes, a significant number lowered their chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Adjusting your diet, increasing your level of exercise, and losing weight if applicable can all help.

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Prediabetes Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention - Prevention Magazine

With just three months remaining until the International Genetically Engineering Machine (iGEM) Jamboree in Paris, France, the 2022 UC Santa Cruz iGEM team is making steady progress on their project: an alternative treatment for Type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition that affects the bodys ability to regulate blood sugar and the 7th leading cause of death globally. Their project addresses the high costs and limited availability of diabetes medication with a yeast-based treatment, which would allow underserved populations around the world to grow and access the medicine locally.

Each year, a new team of UCSC undergraduates participating in iGEM chooses a synthetic biology project that aims to solve a pressing global health issue and joins hundreds of other teams from universities around the world in a global competition. The UCSC team is advised by David Bernick, associate teaching professor of biomolecular engineering (BME), and receiving additional support and mentorship from UCSC Ph.D. student and TA Eric Malekos and Hartnell College intern Gabino Guzman.

After forming in December 2021, the teams first priority was to identify a project that was both viable and addressed a pressing global health challenge.

We asked team members which project, out of four total, they thought would be the most feasible and would be able to make a substantial impact, said Elizabeth Beer, BME student and one of this years captains. At the end, we had consensus on moving forward with the diabetes treatment idea.

When both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals eat, glucagon-like-peptide-1s (GLP1s) are naturally secreted in response to the rise in blood glucose levels. The secretion of GLP1s causes a cascade effect, which ultimately leads to the release of insulin to regulate blood sugar.

People living with Type 2 diabetes either lack insulin sensitivity or resist insulin. A class of medication currently used to treat Type 2 diabetes is called GLP1 RA, glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists. GLP1 RA medications mimic the binding that occurs between GLP1 and its receptor in the body and have longer half lives. This allows for GLP1 RAs to be an attractive and effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes.

GLP1 RAs are really effective for people with Type 2 diabetes because their issue is insulin sensitivity, not necessarily insulin production, said Kiana Imani, a BME student and team co-captain. GLP1 RAs are at the forefront of Type 2 diabetes treatment, but are wildly expensive and not easily accessible in many parts of the world, with underserved populations most affected. Our teams focus is to develop an inexpensive and naturally derived treatment to address the high cost and limited accessibility of diabetes medication.

GLP1 RAs are naturally-derived peptides and can be produced naturally within a plant host, an organism that houses a smaller organism, such as soybeans, yeast, or microalgaeall organisms that the team has considered employing for their project because of their ability to grow fast and be manipulated at the genetic level.

Were trying to find a host or multiple hosts that allows us to prove our concept within the relatively short timeline of our project, said Gia Balius, human biology student and UCSC iGEM team member.

This summer, team UCSC is working in the lab daily. Wet lab work will begin soon as they bring their project to the test phase. The team is divided into four focuses: host development, plasmid design, human impact, and wiki (documentation).

The host-finding group is researching organisms, like yeast or microalgae, to create a bio-encapsulated version of the medication. The plasmid design group will work on inserting the bioengineered gene into the host organism. Plasmids are small DNA structures in the cells of bacteria that have the ability to self-replicate.

The human impact group is connecting with diabetes patients, doctors, and other health professionals to learn more about how their approach can help those that are most impacted by the limited availability and high cost of diabetes medication. The wiki group is building the teams website, where they will share weekly updates, lab notes, resources, and any other information about their project.

Our team structure is completely horizontal; were all equal in the lab and have the freedom to experiment, Imani explained. Were also given a lot of creative freedom from Profesor Bernick, which allows us to get a ton of hands-on experience and learn new concepts by doing.

The past two UCSC iGEM teams won gold at the annual iGEM Jamboree. Team Progenie, which designed a system to target and eliminate a toxic gene found in Shiga toxin-producing E. colia family of bacteria responsible for some of the most severe forms of food poisoningwon in 2021. And the 2020 team earned gold for developing a cellulose-based biodegradable plastic for strawberry growers called Komaplastics that breaks down into glucose monomers that the microbes in soil can use as nutrients and allows farmers to till the plastic into the soil at the end of the growing season, keeping it out of landfills.

The 2022 iGEM competition will be held October 2628 in Paris, France. This will be the first time in three years that team UCSC will be traveling to the competition. Stay tuned for updates on the teams progress this summer and fall at engineering.ucsc.edu/news.

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UCSC iGEM developing yeast-based type 2 diabetes medication for 2022 international competition - University of California, Santa Cruz

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has a new program, "On Track: Transforming Rural Diabetes Care and Education."The Diabetes Care Foundation of Nebraska pledged $7 million to fund it. Dr. Stephen Mohring is one of the physicians leading the 'On Track' program. He said diabetes affects 1 in 10 Nebraskans. Health experts say it's a disease that's already hard to prevent and treat. It can be even more difficult for rural areas.Nineteen-year-old Mollie Kubicka was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 2 years old."I'm actually going into nursing and my goal is to become a diabetes care and education specialist just because of everything that I've learned throughout my time as a diabetic, all the amazing people I've met," she said. "I've been on an insulin pump for almost 16 years now. I'm on a continuous glucose monitor."The native of Juniata near Hastings, Nebraska, said accessing diabetes care isn't always easy. "A lot of my diabetes care-- the clinics I go to, the hospitals I go to, have been moved to the Eastern part of the state. Bigger cities like Lincoln and Omaha," Kubicka said.And while Kubicka does end up getting the treatment she needs, UNMC says that's not the case for many other Nebraskans in rural areas. "One of the challenges in treating diabetes in rural communities is lack of resources," Mohring said. "I think that improving diabetes and pre-diabetes care is an extremely large challenge. It might be the largest health crisis that we're facing in the state of Nebraska."Mohring said pre-diabetes is when your body shows signs your pancreas isn't producing as much insulin as it's supposed to, or when your body rejects the insulin your pancreas produces. "By placing additional resources within the clinics and partnering with local communities, we can improve access to those vital resources that are so critical in treating Diabetes," Mohring said.He said medication alone can't treat and prevent the disease.He points to a "Lack of access to behavioral health or social work services or even food insecurity."UNMC will partner with clinics in rural areas to hire more staff that can help address those issues and educate people on helpful lifestyle changes."It's really (about) improving lifestyle and access to things like walking trails, or fitness classes or nutrition classes even," Mohring said.For three years, UNMC will focus on the cities of Hastings and Wayne. Then, physicians hope to expand their efforts across the state."We're studying data and aggregating the data across those two communities through all of their health clinics and health systems as well as the health department," Mohring said.As for Kubicka, she hopes others can also learn how to live alongside Diabetes without letting it take over their lives. She said this program is a step in that direction."I think that it will definitely make a huge difference for people in these rural communities," Kubicka said.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has a new program, "On Track: Transforming Rural Diabetes Care and Education."

The Diabetes Care Foundation of Nebraska pledged $7 million to fund it.

Dr. Stephen Mohring is one of the physicians leading the 'On Track' program. He said diabetes affects 1 in 10 Nebraskans. Health experts say it's a disease that's already hard to prevent and treat. It can be even more difficult for rural areas.

Nineteen-year-old Mollie Kubicka was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 2 years old.

"I'm actually going into nursing and my goal is to become a diabetes care and education specialist just because of everything that I've learned throughout my time as a diabetic, all the amazing people I've met," she said. "I've been on an insulin pump for almost 16 years now. I'm on a continuous glucose monitor."

The native of Juniata near Hastings, Nebraska, said accessing diabetes care isn't always easy.

"A lot of my diabetes care-- the clinics I go to, the hospitals I go to, have been moved to the Eastern part of the state. Bigger cities like Lincoln and Omaha," Kubicka said.

And while Kubicka does end up getting the treatment she needs, UNMC says that's not the case for many other Nebraskans in rural areas.

"One of the challenges in treating diabetes in rural communities is lack of resources," Mohring said. "I think that improving diabetes and pre-diabetes care is an extremely large challenge. It might be the largest health crisis that we're facing in the state of Nebraska."

Mohring said pre-diabetes is when your body shows signs your pancreas isn't producing as much insulin as it's supposed to, or when your body rejects the insulin your pancreas produces.

"By placing additional resources within the clinics and partnering with local communities, we can improve access to those vital resources that are so critical in treating Diabetes," Mohring said.

He said medication alone can't treat and prevent the disease.

He points to a "Lack of access to behavioral health or social work services or even food insecurity."

UNMC will partner with clinics in rural areas to hire more staff that can help address those issues and educate people on helpful lifestyle changes.

"It's really (about) improving lifestyle and access to things like walking trails, or fitness classes or nutrition classes even," Mohring said.

For three years, UNMC will focus on the cities of Hastings and Wayne. Then, physicians hope to expand their efforts across the state.

"We're studying data and aggregating the data across those two communities through all of their health clinics and health systems as well as the health department," Mohring said.

As for Kubicka, she hopes others can also learn how to live alongside Diabetes without letting it take over their lives. She said this program is a step in that direction.

"I think that it will definitely make a huge difference for people in these rural communities," Kubicka said.

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'It might be the largest health crisis that we're facing in the state of Nebraska': New UNMC program aims to tackle diabetes in rural areas - KETV...

Individuals with diabetes who utilize yearly annual wellness visits are 36% less likely to need a major lower-extremity amputation.

According to the researchers prior work, the use of annual wellness visits was linked to increased use of preventive care for diabetes patients. In this study, they sought to find an association between annual wellness visits and a reduced risk of lower extremity amputations for patients in the Diabetes Belt of the United States.

The researchers used a sample size of data from 2006 to 2015 with an approximate total of 900,000 Medicare beneficiaries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categorized the Diabetes Belt as a region of 644 counties in portions of Appalachian and the south of the US with a high prevalence of diabetes.

Among patients in the Diabetes Belt that had an annual wellness visit in the past year, the rate of major lower-extremity amputations was significantly lower when compared with people that did not have an annual wellness visit. Additionally, the researchers noted that patients in that same region had approximately 27% higher odds of receiving a major lower-extremity amputation compared with people living in surrounding areas.

Patients who used [annual wellness visits] may have had their diabetic foot examined sooner to prevent a major adverse outcome than those who did not, the researchers added. Policy makers should prioritize incentives for having patients participate in [annual wellness visits] to help reduce [major lower-extremity amputations].

Jessica Ganga

Reference:

Lobo JM, Kim S, Kang H, Soh MW. Association between annual wellness visits and major amputations among medicare beneficiaries in the Diabetes Belt. Diabetes. Published online June 01, 2022. doi:10.237/db22-122-OR

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Diabetes-Related Amputations Are Reduced by Annual Wellness Visits - Consultant360

Type 2 diabetes is a product of poor insulin production. Insulin is a hormone that's responsible for regulating blood sugar - the main type of sugar in blood. If you have type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is hampered, and the result is uncontrolled blood sugar levels. This is where diet steps in. You can mimic the effect of insulin by overhauling your diet.

Certain items have been touted for their ability to regulate blood sugar spikes.

Blood sugar levels spike in response to eating specific foods so the key is to consume items that counter this rise and moderate the impact of blood sugar.

Ginger tea has proven to be particularly adept at this process, both in the short and long-term.

Ginger is most often used as an ingredient in South East Asian and Indian cooking, but the spicy root has traditionally been used for centuries. You can take ginger fresh, dried or powdered as a tea, in food, or as a supplement.

READ MORE:Diabetes: Have diabetes? Do not 'overindulge' in a particular type of fruit warns doctor

It's worth noting that other studies did not not turn up this association so further research is required before conclusions can be drawn.

For example, researchers in an analysis of eight randomised trials published in the journal Medicine found "no significant" difference in fasting blood glucose following ginger consumption.

However, they did find dietary ginger "significantly improved" HbA1c, suggesting that this "natural medicine might have an impact on glucose control over a longer period of time" in patients with type 2 diabetes.

It's thought that this effect is attributed to gingerols - the active compound found in ginger.

Research suggests that gingerols have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties.

Many people have type 2 diabetes without realising. This is because symptoms do not necessarily make you feel unwell.

Symptoms include:

Link:
Diabetes: The yellow drink that 'significantly' improves blood sugar levels within hours - Express