prediabetes…

No one wants to hear that diagnosis. But, it doesn’t necessarily mean diabetes is in your future. Here’s how you can control your A1C levels and protect yourself.

- RACHEL NAUD

AFTER A RECENT BLOOD TEST TO check my B12 levels, I logged online to my LifeLabs results and found a hazard sign (the site’s indicator that something is alarming with your blood test results). I assumed my B12 levels must have dropped again, but on closer inspection, I realized that they were normal. It was only when my eyes landed on “general chemistry” that I saw the reason for the hazard sign. To my surprise, the offending level was due to my hemoglobin A1C number. I had no idea what caused this high reading or even what it meant.

A frantic search on WebMD told me that my level of 6.3 meant that I had prediabetes and was teetering on the line of full-blown diabetes, which I’d meet the criteria for if it reached a level of 6.5. I was in shock. But maybe, given my lifestyle, I shouldn’t have been.

A work-from-home mom, I admit that I’ve let my health slide. Between assignments and daily errands, I’d often opt for a quick sandwich, followed by a cookie (or two) to satisfy my sweet tooth. Dinners always had carbs (hello, pasta). And, of course, what’s dinner without dessert? But it’s not like I never exercised. I’d head out on walks with the dog, go to Zumba every once in a while and sometimes do workout videos in my living room. But, even though the pounds have crept up on me over the years, I still thought I was healthy – until that glaring hazard sign stared back at me, forcing me to face the truth: I wasn’t.