Newsgram

 Learning that you have prediabetes is not only a wake-up call, but a great opportunity to change that path.  

Prediabetes means that your blood glucose is higher than normal.  And if it continues to rise unchecked, you're very likely to develop type 2 diabetes within the next few years.  Below are steps you can take to reverse your prediabetes.

• Lose a little weight (and keep it off).  Shedding just five to 10 percent of your body weight can help prevent or delay diabetes.  But once you get to the weight you want, you've go tot stay there.  
• Add more exercise.  Try to be physically active for 30 to 60 minutes, five days a week.  It doesn't have to be an hour solid.  A few minutes here and there of biking, walking briskly or taking the stairs will all add up to make a difference.
• Change your unhealthy habits as a family.  First, it's easier to stick with healthier foods and physical exercise if you're all eating from the same menu and involved in similar activities.  Second, type 2 diabetes can have genetic links.  If you start instilling healthy habits at a younger age, the entire family will benefit.
• Get enough sleep.  People who regularly get less than six hours of sleep a night have increased insulin resistance.  Aim for seven to nine hours of shut-eye a night.
• Take your blood pressure and cholesterol more seriously.  High blood cholesterol and hypertension can speed you up on the road to cardiovascular disease.  Lifestyle choices like healthy eating and exercise can help keep these in a normal range.