2. Lower Your Weight. If you're overweight, you might not have to lose as much as you think to make a difference. In one study, people who had prediabetes and lost 5% to 7% of their body weight (just 10-14 pounds in someone who weights 200 pounds) cut their chances of getting diabetes by 58%.
Ideally, two to four hours before a workout, eat a meal that is rich in complex carbohydrates (think oatmeal or brown rice), moderate in lean protein (think chicken or low-fat and fat-free dairy foods), lower in fat (think nuts and oils) and fiber (think broccoli and cauliflower) and includes plenty of fluids (think water or low-calorie beverage).
If performance and good recovery is the goal, then you should aim to eat before and after. A carb/protein blend drink (2/3 to 1 ratio) is often prescribed immediately post-workout. If you have time, eat something with protein and carbs before your run (about 2 hours out if you can). Your choices change depending on the amount of time before or after the workouts. If weight loss is your goal, your eating approach needs to be completely different.