The centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that I in 3 American adults have prediabetes. What does it mean to have prediabetes? How do you know if you have prediabetes? Does having prediabetes mean that you are or will become diabetic?
Understanding prediabetes is the key to knowing if you have it and learning what you can do about it.
What Is Prediabetes?
According to Web MD, an online consumer medical resource, prediabetes is when your blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough for your doctor to diagnose diabetes. You might also hear prediabetes referred to as impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance.
Your body produces insulin, a hormone that moves sugars in the foods you eat from the bloodstream into your cells. Cells process the sugar for energy. If your body doesn’t respond properly to insulin, excess sugar remains in the bloodstream instead of moving into the cells for processing. Your blood sugar levels rise beyond the normal, healthy range, but are not high enough to be considered diabetes disease.
How Do You Know If You Have Prediabetes?
Prediabetes doesn’t usually cause symptoms. A blood test is needed to diagnose prediabetes. Your doctor may order a Fasting Plasma Glucose test to see if you have prediabetes. After not eating for eight hours, the lab will draw your blood.
Although lab values can vary slightly, according to Mayo Clinic…
- “A blood sugar level less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is normal.”
- “A reading between 140 and 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L) indicates prediabetes.”
- “A reading of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher after two hours suggests diabetes.”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351199
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
If your doctor suspects prediabetes after your blood test, they may order an Oral Glucose Tolerance test to confirm the findings. During this test, you drink something sugary, and two hours later, more blood is drawn.
MedlinePlus reports these values:
Normal blood values for a 75 gram OGTT used to check for type 2 diabetes in those who are not pregnant:
- Fasting — 60 to 100 mg/dL (3.3 to 5.5 mmol/L)
- 1 hour — Less than 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L)
- 2 hours — This value is used to make the diagnosis of diabetes.
- A 2-hour value between 140 and 200 mg/dL (7.8 and 11.1 mmol/L) is called impaired glucose tolerance. Your provider may call this pre-diabetes. It means you are at increased risk of developing diabetes over time.
- Any glucose level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher is used to diagnose diabetes.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003466.htm
Hemoglobin A1C
WebMD reports the “A1C test measures blood sugar levels over the last three months.”
- For people without diabetes, the normal range for the hemoglobin A1C level is between 4% and 5.6%.
- Hemoglobin A1C levels between 5.7% and 6.4% mean you have a higher chance of getting diabetes.
- Levels of 6.5% or higher mean you have diabetes.
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/glycated-hemoglobin-test-hba1c
Symptoms Of Prediabetes
When a person’s blood sugars first start to rise, they may not notice any symptoms. Sometimes, people with prediabetes may experience:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Tiredness and fatigue
Because people with prediabetes don’t always notice any symptoms, it’s important to understand the risk factors.
Risk Factors For Prediabetes
The Mayo Clinic states that these are the risk factors for prediabetes:
- Being overweight, especially inside and between the muscle and skin around your abdomen
- Men with waists larger than 40 inches and women with waists larger than 35 inches
- Diet high in red meat, processed meat, and drinking sugar-sweetened beverages
- Lack of exercise
- Over age 45
- Family history
- Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian American race and ethnicity
- Having diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes)
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
- High triglyceride level
If you have any of these risk factors or symptoms of prediabetes, talk with your doctor.
What You Can Do if You Have Prediabetes
Having prediabetes does not mean you will develop diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, changing your lifestyle and eating habits can help manage prediabetes and lower your blood sugar levels. If you have prediabetes, talk to your doctor about making these changes:
- Lose Weight – losing 5% to 10% of your body weight can make a difference
- Get Active – work toward spending 30 minutes a day, five days a week, walking or doing other exercises
- Eat a Healthy Diet – whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean meat and fish
- Stop Smoking
- Lower Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels
- Take Your Medications – if the doctor prescribes medication to help control your blood sugar, take it as directed
Conclusion
Understanding prediabetes is the best way to lower your risk and control your blood sugar levels. Having prediabetes doesn’t mean you will get diabetes. Take care of yourself and follow your doctor’s recommendations.
Be A Man – Do The Right Thing. It’s Your Life. It’s Your Choice. Take Care Of Yourself. Eat Right And Exercise.
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