Doctor’s Secrets: How to Beat Pre-Diabetes Naturally?

health

Doctor’s Secrets: How to Beat Pre-Diabetes Naturally?

By Alpro Pharmacy

April 7, 2025

Introduction

*Beep, Beep*. That is the sound of your glucometer finishing measuring your blood sugar. You woke up on a bright sunny morning, and saw a nearby glucometer at the coffee table. Curiosity ran through your mind and you then decided to take a fasting blood glucose test, and this is how it all began.

Lo and behold, comes your blood glucose levels with a 6.5mmol/L reading at your glucometer! And that, my dear reader, is a prediabetic blood sugar range. Pre-diabetes is a warning sign — a red flag that your blood sugar levels are creeping into dangerous territory.

According to recent guidelines, Pre-diabetes is considered when the fasting blood glucose, provided with 8 hours overnight fast is between 5.7 to 6.9 mmol/L and if the random blood glucose, which is measured 2 hours after meals, is between 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L.

Not only that, it is also considered prediabetic when HbA1C, a blood test that measures the average level of glucose in your blood over the past three months is between 5.7% to 6.3%

So, you might be having some questions about it. But the big question is, can pre-diabetes be reversed? Well, the answer to it is Yes, You Can! So, we will be diving deeper on how it can be done to help in this condition.

Is Pre-diabetes reversible?

When it comes to pre-diabetes, you need to take some work on it. Lifestyle modifications are a way to go to start off your journey on it. There is strong evidence that combination of diet plus physical activity reduces or delays the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in prediabetes.

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) encourages people to achieve moderate-intensity physical activity (such as brisk walking) for at least 150 minutes/week. Furthermore, having a diet plan, like the Suku – Suku Separuh Diet, which is ¼ of carbohydrates (preferably whole grains such as brown rice or wholemeal bread), ¼ of proteins (fish or, poultry, meat, or egg), and ½ of fruits & vegetables can also benefit on reversing pre-diabetic conditions. Losing at least 7% of body weight can significantly improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels.

Sounds tedious, is it? Well, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) study found that lifestyle interventions reduced diabetes risk by 58% — making it the most powerful strategy available. With that in mind, you might be changing a lot of your usual lifestyle. But, taking it slow and making a habit is the key to success. Try things that work for you and slowly but surely, it may come to you sooner than ever.

Can Medicine & Supplements help?

Metformin: Does it Help?

When lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to help with your pre-diabetes, doctors will come to a solution on prescribing metformin – a most widely studied pre-diabetes medication. So how does metformin come into play?

Well, metformin is widely used and is considered the first – line therapy for lowering blood glucose. Research shows that:

The DPP Outcomes Study found metformin reduced diabetes risk by 31% over three years, particularly in younger individuals and those with a high BMI.
Metformin is the only drug that has received endorsement by our Malaysian Regulatory authority as well as by other national guidelines for the prevention of diabetes.
Metformin help reduces HbA1C by up to 1.5%

It is not to say that metformin is for all. According to The Malaysian Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG), metformin therapy is usually provided for individuals who have high risk factors. It is mostly considered when there are some following considerations:

Individuals under 60 with a BMI ≥ 35
Those with a history of gestational diabetes
Patients whose glucose levels worsen despite lifestyle changes after 6 months

Metformin is generally well tolerated, but some may experience its potential side effects. You could be experiencing:

Gastrointestinal issues: Nausea, diarrhoea, bloating – these usually improve when metformin is taken with / or after meals. Some even suggested taking in divided doses to minimize GI issues.
Vitamin B12 deficiency: Low in Vitamin B12 may result fatigue, occasional nerve numbness and anaemia – Long-term use may require monitoring and supplementation.
Lactic Acidosis: It is quite rare to occur (< 1 case per 100,000 treated patients) – However this side effect is generally looked upon by people who had severe kidney disease.

In short, while metformin is helpful in cases for prediabetes, do think twice about it before running off to look for it yourself. It is better to consult a healthcare professional to provide you with the proper guidance and medication consultation.

The Role of Healthcare Professionals

Managing pre-diabetes is easier with the right support, and healthcare professionals play a crucial role in ensuring quality patient care.

Each healthcare professional has its strengths and capabilities to guide you on your prediabetic journey and a team collaboration is what makes it work to deliver best patient outcomes.

Final Thoughts—What’s Your Next Move?

Pre-diabetes doesn’t mean diabetes is inevitable. You have control. The best strategy? Start now. Lifestyle changes remain the most powerful tool, but for high-risk individuals, medications like metformin can provide added protection.

If you’re considering supplements, approach them with caution and consult a healthcare professional. The key to success is a personalized, science-backed plan —because when it comes to your health, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your future self will thank you.

References

CPG – Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (6th Edition) https://www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/CPG/Endocrine/CPG_T2DM_6th_Edition_2020_13042021.pdf

Anderson R. Chromium in the prevention and control of diabetes. Diabetes Metab. 2000 Feb;26(1):22-7.

Herbs & Natural Supplements: An Evidence-based Guide 4th Edition By Lesley Braun, PhD, BPharm, DipAppSciNat and Marc Cohen, MBBS(Hons), PhD, BMedSc(Hons), FAMAC, FICAE

Blackmores Institute. Metabolic Health Diabetes Spreadsheet (https://www.blackmoresinstitute.org/education/condition-information-sheets/fact-sheets/diabetes)

Nigella sativa supplementation improves cardiometabolic indicators in population with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.977756/full)