Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are elevated, but not high enough to meet the criteria for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. We adhere to functional medicine in our Toronto clinic, where we can help address this health concern. 

Being aware of prediabetes bears significance, as you can have the health condition without exhibiting signs. By the time you formally discover you have it, serious health concerns may have already begun, such as weight changes, frequent urination, or blurry vision. 

If your health challenges include unstable blood sugar levels that affect your mental clarity, this article may encourage you to take a personalized approach to wellness. The Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC) highlights facts about prediabetes; how we apply functional and integrative medicine to this condition, and details about our tailored treatment plans. 

Quick Facts 

• • Think of prediabetes as though you’re driving towards a yellow traffic light – it can be thought of as a warning indicator for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease primarily developed from two key issues: first, cells in the muscles, fat, and liver decrease their responses to insulin, which prevents them from absorbing sufficient sugar from the blood. Second, the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. When left untreated, it can lead to cardiovascular disease and increase your susceptibility to strokes. 

• • When you have prediabetes, this means your cells may be losing  the capability to respond to insulin, which can trigger a poor uptake of glucose. Normal HA1C (glycosylated hemoglobin) levels are measured below 5.5%. HA1C levels for prediabetes are usually in the range of 6 – 6.4%. 

• • How a person gets prediabetes will  vary due to family history (genetics) and unhealthy lifestyle factors. For example, those who smoke, have sleep apnea or are overweight tend to have issues with insulin resistance, which is when your body’s reaction to insulin declines; this can trigger irregular blood sugar levels. Individuals with PCOS are also at risk of forming prediabetes. 

• • Clinical symptoms  may include: slow wound healing, tingling/numbing sensations in the hands and feet; poor energy levels; urinating often; erectile dysfunction; unclear/blurry vision; weight gain or weight loss. 

• • If left untreated, it can progress into type 2 diabetes; but it’s possible to make lifestyle modifications to help prevent prediabetes from entering a worsened state.  

Functional Medicine Approaches to Prediabetes

In the eyes of a functional medicine practitioner, a whole-body methodology would be applied; this helps us identify underlying causes and bodily imbalances that may have led to your formation of prediabetes. For prediabetes, we may focus on insulin levels, your hormone balance, dietary choices, inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, and gut health – these are factors that can play a role in derailing metabolism and promoting insulin resistance. Here are some ways we might address prediabetes: 

• • Functional medicine testing: We may implement our lab testing services to measure insulin levels and biomarkers, which are scrutinized for diagnosing prediabetes. An inflammatory panel may also be conducted for quantifying C-reactive protein, etc., as prediabetes is often linked to excessive inflammation. Here are some examples of functional lab tests to assess blood sugar status
    • Fasting Glucose: This test measures blood sugar after 12 hours of fasting. Normal levels are 3.6 -6 nmol/L .
    • Hemoglobin A1c: HbA1c reflects average blood sugar over the past 3 months. Levels below 5.5% are normal; and 6.5% or higher confirms diabetes.
    • Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): After consuming a glucose drink, glucose and insulin are measured over 2 hours. Abnormal results may indicate insulin resistance or diabetes.
    • Fasting Insulin: Fasting insulin levels measure the amount of insulin in the blood after 12 hours of fasting. High levels indicate insulin resistance, as the pancreas produces additional insulin to regulate blood sugar. 

• • Supplements: Along with dietary modifications, oral supplements may be suggested for heightening alpha lipoic acid levels. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has been shown to improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes, reducing fasting blood sugar and HbA1c levels. It also helps manage diabetic neuropathy by helping to alleviate nerve pain and improve function​. For a comprehensive view of ALA’s impact on diabetes, consider reviewing studies, such as those by the BMJ Open or Endocrine Connections, which explore its dosage, effectiveness, and safety.

• • Dietary changes: Several journals have discussed adhering to the Mediterranean Diet, as it emphasizes fresh produce, lean proteins, and healthy fats. The Mediterranean Diet embraces carbohydrates low on the glycemic index, which is needed for managing blood sugar. We recommend booking a session with our holistic nutritionist to customize your dietary plans. 

The tips above are not meant to be stand-alone treatments; they must be combined with other health interventions, such as getting enough sleep, lowering stress, and increasing aerobic exercise. When functional medicine therapies are applied, these may contribute to managing prediabetes. Please contact us if you’re concerned about prediabetes or need assistance managing your current gut health, nutritional deficiencies, and more. 

Suggested reading: How Our Toronto Functional Medicine Clinic Combats Pollution-related Skin Issues

About Our Functional Medicine Therapies and IV Lounge

A tailored approach to health care can help tackle specific chronic health issues. After all, we are distinct individuals, and health optimization means something different for everyone! Our compassionate health providers sit down with you to understand your medical history and current health issues without interruptions. We take ample time to comprehend your health needs, suggest functional lab tests, and help you walk towards optimal wellness. 

A tailored treatment plan from the TFMC may contain an array of integrative and functional medicine strategies. This provides you with additional options for promoting symptom relief and disease prevention, and each modality is adapted for your biology. We offer Western medicine, herbal medicine, holistic nutrition, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, hormone optimization programs, psychotherapy, and more. 

Intravenous therapy is also available in our in-house IV Lounge, where we customize IV drips for supportive measures. The functional medicine model is applied to each IV drip, so doses are always unique to each patient! When IV therapy is combined with additional functional medicine therapies and healthy lifestyle choices, they may help support wellness improvements. 

Please don’t hesitate to address any health concerns with us. We have extensive experience modifying treatments for various health issues, including stress-related conditions, digestive issues, skin disorders, insulin resistance, hormone irregularities, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disorders, and more. 

Do you need help making healthy lifestyle decisions? Let’s explore the root cause of your health issues as you navigate your health journey. Start by clicking here to reach the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

“Diabetes rates continue to climb in Canada” from Diabetes Canada, released March 3, 2022, viewed on May 3, 2024. 

Esposito K, Maiorino MI, Bellastella G, et al

A journey into a Mediterranean diet and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review with meta-analyses

BMJ Open 2015;5:e008222. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008222

Hosseini Z, Whiting SJ, Vatanparast H. Type 2 diabetes prevalence among Canadian adults – dietary habits and sociodemographic risk factors. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2019 Oct;44(10):1099-1104. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2018-0567. Epub 2019 Aug 6. PMID: 31386561.

Laura C. Rosella, Michael Lebenbaum, Tiffany Fitzpatrick, Aleksandra Zuk, Gillian L. Booth; Prevalence of Prediabetes and Undiagnosed Diabetes in Canada (2007–2011) According to Fasting Plasma Glucose and HbA1c Screening Criteria. Diabetes Care 1 July 2015; 38 (7): 1299–1305. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc14-2474

Martín-Peláez, S., Fito, M., & Castaner, O. (2020). Mediterranean Diet Effects on Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, Disease Progression, and Related Mechanisms. A Review. Nutrients, 12(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082236

Pandey A, Tripathi P, Pandey R, Srivatava R, Goswami S. Alternative therapies useful in the management of diabetes: A systematic review. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2011 Oct;3(4):504-12. doi: 10.4103/0975-7406.90103. PMID: 22219583; PMCID: PMC3249697.

“Prediabetes” from the Cleveland Clinic, reviewed on November 8, 2023, viewed on May 3, 2023. 

“Prediabetes” from Diabetes Canada, viewed on May 3, 2024. 

Salehidoost R, Taghipour Boroujeni G, Feizi A, Aminorroaya A, Amini M. Effect of oral magnesium supplement on cardiometabolic markers in people with prediabetes: a double blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Sci Rep. 2022 Oct 28;12(1):18209. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-20277-6. PMID: 36307427; PMCID: PMC9616938.

Setiyorini E, Qomaruddin MB, Wibisono S, Juwariah T, Setyowati A, Wulandari NA, Sari YK, Sari LT. Complementary and alternative medicine for glycemic control of diabetes mellitus: A systematic review. J Public Health Res. 2022 Jul 8;11(3):22799036221106582. doi: 10.1177/22799036221106582. PMID: 35911428; PMCID: PMC9335474.