What does a prediabetes diagnosis mean?

Prediabetes can be a warning sign of type 2 diabetes

You may have heard of type 2 diabetesa chronic condition that occurs when blood sugar levels are too high. But are you familiar with prediabeteswhat is an early warning sign of type 2 diabetes? Prediabetes often – but not always – develops into type 2 diabetes. It is sometimes known as early-onset diabetes, borderline type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistance.

If you develop insulin resistance, your body has become less sensitive to the insulin you produce, or your pancreas has stopped making enough insulin to meet your needs. Both conditions cause sugar to build up in your bloodstream. You may be diagnosed with prediabetes if your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes.

If you are diagnosed with prediabetes, you may be able to manage the condition. Some people can delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Others can prevent their blood sugar levels from ever reaching the diabetic range.

Unfortunately, 80% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have it because it’s a silent condition with no symptoms. People are usually diagnosed after routine blood tests that are ordered by family doctors during annual checkups. If you don’t go for annual checkups or have blood tests every now and then, you may never know your prediabetes status.

Are you at increased risk for prediabetes?

Prediabetes is often diagnosed in people who are 45 or older. People who are black, Hispanic, and Asian are at greater risk for prediabetes than people who are white.

People are at greater risk if they:

• Being overweight or obese.
• Lead an inactive life.
• There is prediabetes or diabetes in the family.
• You have high blood pressure.
• Having high cholesterol.
• I have sleep apnea.
• You were diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
• Eat a lot of red meat or products with refined flour or added sugar.

How is prediabetes diagnosed?

Prediabetes and diabetes can be diagnosed with simple blood tests. The two most common tests are:

• Fasting blood sugar test, which requires you to fast for eight hours before having your blood drawn. This test provides a snapshot of your blood sugar levels on the day of the test.
• Hemoglobin A1C test, which is not affected by what you eat before the test. It shows your average blood sugar level over the past three months.

What do the results of a fasting blood sugar test mean?

• Less than 100 mg/dL is within the normal range.
• Between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL is considered prediabetic.
• 126 mg/dL or higher on two occasions is considered diabetes.

What do the results of a hemoglobin A1C test mean?

• Less than 5.7% is normal.
• Between 5.7% and 6.4% have prediabetes.
• 5% or higher on two occasions is diabetes.

How can people control prediabetes?

You may feel fine when you are diagnosed with prediabetes, but it is important to keep the condition under control. Managing prediabetes can delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Many people manage their prediabetes by making lifestyle changes or taking medication.

Some people are motivated to change their habits because they have family members with type 2 diabetes, and they want to avoid the health complications their loved ones have experienced. For others, the diagnosis itself can be motivation enough.

Changing the way you eat and exercise can help you lose weight and lower your blood sugar levels, which should help you manage your prediabetes. Try these changes:

• Adjust your diet to a healthy one. Avoid simple sugars (soda or juice) and simple carbohydrates (white bread, white rice, white pasta, white flour tortillas, or potatoes). They can seriously spike your blood sugar or cause weight gain. People with prediabetes should eat complex carbohydrates (whole wheat bread, brown rice, quinoa, or beans) as part of the Mediterranean diet, which includes lean protein, healthy fats, and lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Move more. Adults—including those with prediabetes—should aim for 150 minutes (about two and a half hours) of moderate-intensity exercise per week. This may sound overwhelming if you haven’t been doing much physical activity lately. If you’ve been sedentary, start with a 15-minute walk after dinner and gradually increase the time for each walk. Research has shown that walking after a meal helps lower blood sugar levels from the meal you just ate, so it’s a great time to get some exercise.
• Lose weight if you are overweight or obese. You don’t have to lose a huge amount of weight to have a positive impact on your prediabetes. Research has shown that losing just 5% of your body weight can have a big impact on your blood sugar levels. If you weigh 180 pounds, that’s a loss of just 9 pounds.

It can be difficult to adopt habits that are different from those you have followed your entire life. Some patients have difficulty making meaningful changes to their diet or exercise routine. When starting a new routine, it is best to do things in moderation. If you try to adopt a completely new lifestyle all at once, it will be too difficult to maintain the changes long-term.

If you are interested in making positive changes through lifestyle habits, your health care provider may give you three months to try to improve yourself before prescribing medication. You may never need medication if you can make significant changes on your own, and many people do. Others are unsuccessful, despite their best efforts. For these patients, health care providers may prescribe a medication that helps patients with prediabetes and diabetes lower their blood sugar levels and make it easier for them to lose 5% of their body weight.

Whether you manage your prediabetes on your own or with the help of your doctor, it is a remarkable achievement. Not only will you look and feel healthier, but you will also reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and the complications that can arise from this condition.

Shivani VekriyaMD, is an endocrinologist for ChristianaCare and is accepting new patients in Newark. Call today to schedule an appointment and learn more: 302-661-3070.