If you have higher-than-normal blood sugar levels that aren't quite high enough to be classified as diabetes, you may have prediabetes. If you don't modify your diet and lifestyle choices, prediabetes will likely become type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Inactivity, high triglyceride levels and excess fat -- especially around your abdomen -- are all signs of prediabetes.
Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes
After eating, glucose levels rise and your pancreas releases insulin to help your body move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells for use as energy. If your pancreas slows insulin production or your body can't use insulin effectively, you have insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. It's common for people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes to have elevated levels of glucose and insulin at the same time. Although there are specific genes that make some people prone to develop diabetes, lifestyle choices also influence insulin resistance.
Triglycerides and Insulin Resistance
Insulin moves both glucose and triglycerides into your cells. Glucose is used immediately for energy, and triglycerides are stored to be converted into energy later. If your insulin isn't effectively moving triglycerides from your bloodstream into your cells, you'll have elevated triglyceride levels -- a common symptom of undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes. Triglycerides are associated with cholesterol, and a simple lipid profile blood test will tell you your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Ideally your triglyceride levels will be below 150 mg/dL. Any reading above 200 mg/dL is high and a reading over 500 mg/dL is very high. For people with undiagnosed diabetes, triglyceride levels can reach more than 1,000 mg/dL.
Treating Insulin Resistance
If your high triglyceride levels are caused by insulin resistance rather than genetics or lifestyle choices, you'll need to treat the insulin resistance to lower your triglycerides and prevent diabetes. Changes in your diet and activity level can help your body start to use insulin more effectively. The most effective combination: ncrease your activity level, lose weight and eat a healthy high-fiber diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fruit and lean protein. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medications, such as metformin, if you are at a high risk of developing diabetes; or statins to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
The Dangers of High Triglycerides
You may need to lower your triglyceride levels while simultaneously increasing your insulin sensitivity. The same healthy lifestyle changes that lower your risk of diabetes will also lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Additionally, limit your alcohol consumption, since even small amounts of alcohol can raise your triglyceride levels substantially.
Left untreated, high triglycerides increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Since diabetes also increases your risk for these diseases, it's important to monitor both glucose and cholesterol levels.
