Can a 24-year-old prevent type 2 diabetes by changing diet?
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am 24 years old and recently found that my fasting sugar is 118 and HbA1c is 6.1 in a routine test. I have a family history of diabetes, and I am overweight. I have the following questions:
- Can I reverse type 2 diabetes at 24 by changing my diet?
- If I cut my sugar and carbs out at this point, will I reverse this phase completely, or will I need medication down the road?
I'm afraid this will control my life forever. I also had triglycerides of 210 and an HDL of 34, which is low. I want to know if the early effort does pay off in the long term. Stress and night shifts mess up my routine pretty badly as well. I keep searching for complications, such as nerve damage and kidney problems, and it’s making me more anxious.
Kindly help.
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I hear how worried you are. I understand. The family history and what you’ve been reading. The good news is that what you have described sounds very much like an early, reversible stage called prediabetes rather than established type 2 diabetes.
A fasting sugar of 118 and HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) of 6.1 % is not a life sentence but a signal. At 24, your body is still very responsive to change, and there is strong evidence that early lifestyle changes can reduce the chance of progressing to diabetes significantly, and in many cases, bring numbers fully back to the normal range. So yes, this stage, prevention and even reversal, is very feasible.
The most important thing is to not only cut sugar, but to improve your overall metabolic health. Losing just five to ten percent of your body weight can significantly improve insulin sensitivity.
A good mix of walking and resistance training, in particular, works like medicine for blood sugar control.
I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.
Thank you.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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