November 7, 2025 • 13 mins
Episode 47: Spotting Early Signs of Prediabetes and Blood Sugar Imbalance
More than 80% of people with prediabetes don’t even know they have it. In this episode, Jenny Peña, NBC-HWC, shares the everyday red flags you should watch for and the 3 lab tests to ask your doctor about during Diabetes Prevention Month.
You’ll learn:
Common early signs of prediabetes (energy crashes, cravings, belly weight, fatigue)
The 3 lab tests doctors use (A1C, fasting glucose, OGTT)
Why prediabetes is an opportunity to act, not a guarantee
💡 Free Resource: Grab your Prediabetes Starter Guide → https://subscribepage.io/starterguide
✨ November Special: My 5-Day Sugar Fix Reset is just $19 (regular $27) this month → https://subscribepage.io/energy
📅 Live Workshop Schedule (Diabetes Prevention Month)
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjenp7
▶️ YouTube: @coachjenp
- LinkedIn Live — Thu Nov 13 @ 5pm EST
YouTube Live — Fri Nov 14 @ 8am EST (World Diabetes Day)
YouTube Live — Sat Nov 15 @ 12 noon EST
LinkedIn Live — Mon Nov 17 @ 1pm EST
Interactive Zoom Workshop — Sat Nov 22 @ 11am EST (register at https://www.jennypena.com/workshop)
🔗 Connect with Jenny:
🌐 Website: jennypena.com
🎙 Podcast: Path to Better A1C on Spotify
📧 Email: hello@jennypena.com
📸 Instagram: @coachjenp
▶️ YouTube: @coachjenp
📘 Facebook: Jen P. Coaching, LLC
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:11):
Hello there, welcome back to thePath to Better A1C broadcast.
I am your host, Jenny Pena, National Ward Certified Health
and Wellness Coach, your blood sugar bestie, and I am here
excited about this month of November because as probably you
have known, November is DiabetesAwareness Month and this month
(00:33):
there's also World Diabetes Day on November 14th.
So I'm having a lot of resources, a lot of workshops
and different things that I havejust to raise awareness and to
provide a lot of support for everyone so that we can't fight
this battle together against diabetes.
(00:55):
Now before we dive in, I want toremind you that I created a
brand new free resource. It's called Pre Diabetes Starter
Guide and it gives you 3 simple steps and a quick start
checklist plus A few details about why to talk to your
(01:17):
doctor, some information about the labs so that you are not
overwhelmed with all this information and you can pretty
much get an understanding. And when you go to your doctor,
you can have that educated conversation and take action.
Now, I also wanted to mention that there is going to be a lot
(01:37):
of live workshops that I am going to host this month.
In order for you to be aware, I am definitely going to try to
keep the description of the episode with all the details.
But the best way is to either join my e-mail list, follow me
on Instagram, follow me on YouTube, and you're going to be
able to hear all about it in a more consistent way.
(02:00):
So be excited because I am goingto do live workshops on
LinkedIn, I'm going to do live workshops on YouTube and to give
the opportunity for people to interact and have their
questions live. I will have one workshop that
you will need to register for. Again, all of this is free and
(02:21):
that is going to be have will beassumed.
And that way we can have like a more intimate conversation and
you can ask your questions and everything is going to be in the
show notes. So just be on the lookout for
that. Now, let's talk a little bit
about prediabetes because a lot of people think, oh, I don't
need to worry about because I don't have diabetes yet.
(02:43):
Like a lot of people are very resistant to it.
And what I'm going to say is I felt the same way when I was
diagnosed with prediabetes and not taking action earlier was
kind of a mistake. I took a risk, right, by doing
that, by dismissing it. When you're seeing signs, you're
seeing your blood sugar is regulated, you're seeing all
(03:03):
these things, that is the perfect time for you to make
changes and truly delay and probably prevent diabetes from
ever developing. So it's very important that you
take action. Do not wait until it's
complicated. And obviously I am not trying to
(03:24):
compare diabetes with cancer, but would you delay if somebody
comes and tells you, well, you have level 1 cancer?
Well, I'm going to wait until it's really chronic and then
I'll do something. Nobody would ever do that,
right? So it's the same thing with
diabetes. Again, I'm not trying to be
insensitive or compare diabetes with cancer.
(03:45):
But what I'm saying is that if you're seeing signs, don't
delay, don't wait until it, it is full blown diabetes and
you're having all of the complications that come with it.
And we're going to talk about that during this month, but I
want you to take action. I want you to see it as, oh,
wait a minute. I cannot just dismiss it, even
though it doesn't seem to be that intense.
(04:07):
OK, so let's go over this and I want you to give thought to this
and, and listen to some statistics that are pretty
shocking. Then you know that more than
80%, eight, zero, 80% of people with pre diabetes don't even
know they have it. They have no clue.
(04:31):
This month is about prevention and today I just want to talk
about how to spot these early signs so that you are not one of
those 80%, so that anyone in your family is not one of those
80%. I do not want anyone around my
perimeter and that listen to thesound of my voice to be part of
(04:53):
that 80% that has absolutely no clue, right?
We are going to talk about how to spot these early signs, how
to know maybe there is a blood sugar imbalance going on.
Maybe this is something I need to talk to my doctor about and
what you can actually do next. OK, so everyday red flags.
(05:17):
What are some everyday red flagsthat you're like, you need to
almost tally them and then thinkabout afternoon energy crashes
and brain fog. Obviously it doesn't mean that
if you have brain fog you automatically have pre diabetes.
But I'm saying look at these flags, Look at these alerts.
If every afternoon you're feeling that crash and that
(05:40):
brain fog, that is a sign. If you're feeling completely
wiped out after meals, you need a siesta after every meal.
That is a flag if you're cravingcarbs constantly, it feels
almost in a way that you cannot control it.
(06:00):
If you're having that stubborn belly weight, if you have a
family history of diabetes, all these things are somewhat of a
red flag. Now here are things that I want
you to take note and if you say yes to a few of these things, go
(06:24):
to your doctor and ask for thesethings.
Ask for your A1C levels. A1C is a lab result that is a
test, a blood test and see the levels.
If they're from 5.7 to 6.4% thatis pretty much the pre diabetes
(06:47):
range. If it's creeping up and it's
just below that threshold, I would say start looking at it.
Fasting glucose. If you have a fasting glucose of
100 to 125, that can also be an indicator.
And again, I am not diagnosing, I'm not a doctor.
(07:10):
I am giving you this as guidelines so that you can write
them down and go to your doctor to talk about it because I want
you to be educated. Remember the main goal of this
month is for anyone that listensto my voice, not be part of that
80% that have no clue that they have that pre.
And the next is there is this oral glucose tolerance test.
(07:33):
This, at least in the United States, I don't see it being
done as much. Most times what I see it done
regularly, even when you do yourannual checkup is the fasting
glucose and the A1C. But if you don't and you are
noticing these flags that I mentioned, ask your doctor about
(07:55):
it. It is a very simple test and
remember these are medical guidelines.
Don't try to self diagnose yourself.
I am not diagnosing you, I'm just saying if you notice these
things, talk to your doctor. That's what I want you to do.
Be informed, bring them up to our provider and share.
(08:16):
This is how I'm feeling. What can I do about this?
Right, Because the opportunity that it has is that pre diabetes
is not destiny. It's not that if you are pre
diabetic, Oh absolutely, I'm going to develop type 2
diabetes. That is a myth.
And one thing that is a fact is that lifestyle changes can
(08:37):
actually cut your risk by 50%. So starting now and making those
changes now, it's amazing. Small shifts including protein
at breakfast, having a 10 minutewalk after your lunch, improving
your sleep, simple things like that help tons.
(09:00):
So I want you to think this through.
I want you to evaluate, OK, Am Ihaving constant cravings?
Am I feeling tired all the time?Look at your food.
Is it balanced? Am I, am I eating enough
protein? Am I skipping meals?
(09:21):
Skipping meals is like another thing that actually, if you have
blood sugar imbalance, you're going to feel it.
All of these things, these are ways of your body whispering
before it shouts crashes, cravings, fatigues.
I have had many clients that they say that even when they
(09:44):
have a full night's sleep, they,they, it seems like they just
don't have that energy And that's why they keep going for
the cravings for the, the carbs and the sweet stuff because they
need that quick influx of energy.
They rely solely on coffee for energy.
All these things I want you to be aware, I want you to assess.
(10:06):
And if you're not sure, again, download the pre diabetes
Starter guide. It does have a lot of great
information, is the guide that Iwish I had when I was first
diagnosed with pre diabetes. That's how I created it and
that's what I had in mind. What would I have wanted to know
and what would have added clarity the moment that I heard
(10:32):
about pre diabetes? Because actually I, I didn't get
much information or support, butI'm here for that.
So talk to your doctor, ask about those labs that I
mentioned and start with one small change, right Download the
pre diabetes starter guide next week.
(10:53):
I am going to talk about actually three very simple
changes, three simple changes that will actually help you feel
better regardless if you are prediabetic or not.
So stay tuned for next week and also remember that I'm having
(11:13):
tons of events this month because of Diabetes Awareness
Month. So there are a bunch of live
sessions that I'm holding on LinkedIn.
So if you don't follow me on LinkedIn, follow on YouTube, I'm
going to be going live on YouTube to facilitate a few
workshops and I am going to havea an interactive Zoom
(11:39):
registration only workshop also this month.
So for that schedule, look at the show notes, everything is in
there and feel free to jump. I am scheduling it at different
times and different platforms because I want to bring
awareness to everyone that is inmy network.
So feel free to join in. Hopefully this will bring
(12:00):
awareness tools. It would help you or maybe help
you help a family member or bring a family member along.
So grab your starter guide and follow me on Instagram.
That is, I believe, the best wayto know everything that is
happening consistently. So do that or go follow me on
(12:21):
YouTube for the updates so you can get the alerts every time
I'm going live or I'm having a premiere video.
OK, have an amazing rest of yourweek and again, breathe in,
breathe out. If you just got diagnosed with a
pre diabetes, if you said yes toall of those flags that I
mentioned, you don't need to panic.
(12:44):
Pre diabetes can be reversed. You can delay or even prevent
diabetes from developing into type 2 together.
So just be positive and rememberthat being aware and taking
charge and making changes, this is the moment.
(13:05):
OK? Have an amazing rest of your
week and thank you so much for joining me.
Bye.
Hello there, welcome back to thePath to Better A1C broadcast.
I am your host, Jenny Pena, National Ward Certified Health
and Wellness Coach, your blood sugar bestie, and I am here
excited about this month of November because as probably you
have known, November is DiabetesAwareness Month and this month
(00:33):
there's also World Diabetes Day on November 14th.
So I'm having a lot of resources, a lot of workshops
and different things that I havejust to raise awareness and to
provide a lot of support for everyone so that we can't fight
this battle together against diabetes.
(00:55):
Now before we dive in, I want toremind you that I created a
brand new free resource. It's called Pre Diabetes Starter
Guide and it gives you 3 simple steps and a quick start
checklist plus A few details about why to talk to your
(01:17):
doctor, some information about the labs so that you are not
overwhelmed with all this information and you can pretty
much get an understanding. And when you go to your doctor,
you can have that educated conversation and take action.
Now, I also wanted to mention that there is going to be a lot
(01:37):
of live workshops that I am going to host this month.
In order for you to be aware, I am definitely going to try to
keep the description of the episode with all the details.
But the best way is to either join my e-mail list, follow me
on Instagram, follow me on YouTube, and you're going to be
able to hear all about it in a more consistent way.
(02:00):
So be excited because I am goingto do live workshops on
LinkedIn, I'm going to do live workshops on YouTube and to give
the opportunity for people to interact and have their
questions live. I will have one workshop that
you will need to register for. Again, all of this is free and
(02:21):
that is going to be have will beassumed.
And that way we can have like a more intimate conversation and
you can ask your questions and everything is going to be in the
show notes. So just be on the lookout for
that. Now, let's talk a little bit
about prediabetes because a lot of people think, oh, I don't
need to worry about because I don't have diabetes yet.
(02:43):
Like a lot of people are very resistant to it.
And what I'm going to say is I felt the same way when I was
diagnosed with prediabetes and not taking action earlier was
kind of a mistake. I took a risk, right, by doing
that, by dismissing it. When you're seeing signs, you're
seeing your blood sugar is regulated, you're seeing all
(03:03):
these things, that is the perfect time for you to make
changes and truly delay and probably prevent diabetes from
ever developing. So it's very important that you
take action. Do not wait until it's
complicated. And obviously I am not trying to
(03:24):
compare diabetes with cancer, but would you delay if somebody
comes and tells you, well, you have level 1 cancer?
Well, I'm going to wait until it's really chronic and then
I'll do something. Nobody would ever do that,
right? So it's the same thing with
diabetes. Again, I'm not trying to be
insensitive or compare diabetes with cancer.
(03:45):
But what I'm saying is that if you're seeing signs, don't
delay, don't wait until it, it is full blown diabetes and
you're having all of the complications that come with it.
And we're going to talk about that during this month, but I
want you to take action. I want you to see it as, oh,
wait a minute. I cannot just dismiss it, even
though it doesn't seem to be that intense.
(04:07):
OK, so let's go over this and I want you to give thought to this
and, and listen to some statistics that are pretty
shocking. Then you know that more than
80%, eight, zero, 80% of people with pre diabetes don't even
know they have it. They have no clue.
(04:31):
This month is about prevention and today I just want to talk
about how to spot these early signs so that you are not one of
those 80%, so that anyone in your family is not one of those
80%. I do not want anyone around my
perimeter and that listen to thesound of my voice to be part of
(04:53):
that 80% that has absolutely no clue, right?
We are going to talk about how to spot these early signs, how
to know maybe there is a blood sugar imbalance going on.
Maybe this is something I need to talk to my doctor about and
what you can actually do next. OK, so everyday red flags.
(05:17):
What are some everyday red flagsthat you're like, you need to
almost tally them and then thinkabout afternoon energy crashes
and brain fog. Obviously it doesn't mean that
if you have brain fog you automatically have pre diabetes.
But I'm saying look at these flags, Look at these alerts.
If every afternoon you're feeling that crash and that
(05:40):
brain fog, that is a sign. If you're feeling completely
wiped out after meals, you need a siesta after every meal.
That is a flag if you're cravingcarbs constantly, it feels
almost in a way that you cannot control it.
(06:00):
If you're having that stubborn belly weight, if you have a
family history of diabetes, all these things are somewhat of a
red flag. Now here are things that I want
you to take note and if you say yes to a few of these things, go
(06:24):
to your doctor and ask for thesethings.
Ask for your A1C levels. A1C is a lab result that is a
test, a blood test and see the levels.
If they're from 5.7 to 6.4% thatis pretty much the pre diabetes
(06:47):
range. If it's creeping up and it's
just below that threshold, I would say start looking at it.
Fasting glucose. If you have a fasting glucose of
100 to 125, that can also be an indicator.
And again, I am not diagnosing, I'm not a doctor.
(07:10):
I am giving you this as guidelines so that you can write
them down and go to your doctor to talk about it because I want
you to be educated. Remember the main goal of this
month is for anyone that listensto my voice, not be part of that
80% that have no clue that they have that pre.
And the next is there is this oral glucose tolerance test.
(07:33):
This, at least in the United States, I don't see it being
done as much. Most times what I see it done
regularly, even when you do yourannual checkup is the fasting
glucose and the A1C. But if you don't and you are
noticing these flags that I mentioned, ask your doctor about
(07:55):
it. It is a very simple test and
remember these are medical guidelines.
Don't try to self diagnose yourself.
I am not diagnosing you, I'm just saying if you notice these
things, talk to your doctor. That's what I want you to do.
Be informed, bring them up to our provider and share.
(08:16):
This is how I'm feeling. What can I do about this?
Right, Because the opportunity that it has is that pre diabetes
is not destiny. It's not that if you are pre
diabetic, Oh absolutely, I'm going to develop type 2
diabetes. That is a myth.
And one thing that is a fact is that lifestyle changes can
(08:37):
actually cut your risk by 50%. So starting now and making those
changes now, it's amazing. Small shifts including protein
at breakfast, having a 10 minutewalk after your lunch, improving
your sleep, simple things like that help tons.
(09:00):
So I want you to think this through.
I want you to evaluate, OK, Am Ihaving constant cravings?
Am I feeling tired all the time?Look at your food.
Is it balanced? Am I, am I eating enough
protein? Am I skipping meals?
(09:21):
Skipping meals is like another thing that actually, if you have
blood sugar imbalance, you're going to feel it.
All of these things, these are ways of your body whispering
before it shouts crashes, cravings, fatigues.
I have had many clients that they say that even when they
(09:44):
have a full night's sleep, they,they, it seems like they just
don't have that energy And that's why they keep going for
the cravings for the, the carbs and the sweet stuff because they
need that quick influx of energy.
They rely solely on coffee for energy.
All these things I want you to be aware, I want you to assess.
(10:06):
And if you're not sure, again, download the pre diabetes
Starter guide. It does have a lot of great
information, is the guide that Iwish I had when I was first
diagnosed with pre diabetes. That's how I created it and
that's what I had in mind. What would I have wanted to know
and what would have added clarity the moment that I heard
(10:32):
about pre diabetes? Because actually I, I didn't get
much information or support, butI'm here for that.
So talk to your doctor, ask about those labs that I
mentioned and start with one small change, right Download the
pre diabetes starter guide next week.
(10:53):
I am going to talk about actually three very simple
changes, three simple changes that will actually help you feel
better regardless if you are prediabetic or not.
So stay tuned for next week and also remember that I'm having
(11:13):
tons of events this month because of Diabetes Awareness
Month. So there are a bunch of live
sessions that I'm holding on LinkedIn.
So if you don't follow me on LinkedIn, follow on YouTube, I'm
going to be going live on YouTube to facilitate a few
workshops and I am going to havea an interactive Zoom
(11:39):
registration only workshop also this month.
So for that schedule, look at the show notes, everything is in
there and feel free to jump. I am scheduling it at different
times and different platforms because I want to bring
awareness to everyone that is inmy network.
So feel free to join in. Hopefully this will bring
(12:00):
awareness tools. It would help you or maybe help
you help a family member or bring a family member along.
So grab your starter guide and follow me on Instagram.
That is, I believe, the best wayto know everything that is
happening consistently. So do that or go follow me on
(12:21):
YouTube for the updates so you can get the alerts every time
I'm going live or I'm having a premiere video.
OK, have an amazing rest of yourweek and again, breathe in,
breathe out. If you just got diagnosed with a
pre diabetes, if you said yes toall of those flags that I
mentioned, you don't need to panic.
(12:44):
Pre diabetes can be reversed. You can delay or even prevent
diabetes from developing into type 2 together.
So just be positive and rememberthat being aware and taking
charge and making changes, this is the moment.
(13:05):
OK? Have an amazing rest of your
week and thank you so much for joining me.
Bye.
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