Good diet for prediabetes: what to know

Prediabetes means blood glucose is above the usual range but not in the range used to diagnose type 2 diabetes. It reflects reduced insulin sensitivity or the body's difficulty managing glucose. Many people have no clear symptoms, so a screening result and follow-up plan matter more than how you feel on a particular day.

Choose vegetables, beans, lentils, whole grains, unsweetened dairy and lean proteins. Pair carbohydrate foods with protein or fibre, and use water instead of sugary drinks. Serve a measured portion, eat regularly and notice how snacks and drinks affect your routine. Nutrition counselling or a weight-management programme can make changes more practical without relying on restrictive fad diets.

Keep scheduled diabetes screening and contact your clinician if you develop excessive thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, unusual tiredness or unexplained weight change. Seek urgent help for vomiting, deep or rapid breathing, confusion or severe weakness, especially if diabetes has already been diagnosed.

Ask when your glucose should be checked again, what portion pattern suits your medicines and activity, and whether a dietitian or structured weight-management programme would help. Ask which symptoms should prompt earlier review.