Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSelf-ChecksPhysical ExaminationLabs and TestsDifferential DiagnosesFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Self-Checks
Physical Examination
Labs and Tests
Differential Diagnoses
Frequently Asked Questions
Even though prediabetes is a common condition, most affected people are unaware they have it because there are often no apparent symptoms. Nevertheless, since prediabetes is a stepping stone to diabetes and serious complications, getting screened is essential if you are at risk.
This article will review the three blood tests used to detect prediabetes. It will also reveal how clues from your medical history and physical exam may draw suspicion for a diagnosis of prediabetes.
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Self-Checks/At-Home Testing
An estimated 96 million adults in the United States, or approximately 38% of the population, have prediabetes.
While not an exhaustive list, possible symptoms and warning signs of elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) include:
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, see a healthcare provider to have your blood sugar levels checked.
While waiting for your appointment, you may consider purchasing an FDA-approved over-the-counter diabetes test kit. These kits allow you to mail in a blood sample obtained via a finger prick. All said, these at-home tests, while convenient, are not 100% accurate, and they are not intended to be a substitute for seeing your provider.
Be sure to visit your healthcare provider to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of prediabetes.
Screening for PrediabetesRegardless of symptoms, the American Diabetes Association advises adults without risk factors to begin screening for prediabetes at age 35.Screening is also recommended for people under 35 who have overweight or obesity and at least one risk factor such as high blood pressure, lack of physical activity, or a close family history of diabetes.Screening for prediabetes is also recommended for children who fulfill all of these three criteria:Have entered puberty or are at least 10 years oldHave overweight or obesityHave at least one other risk factor for type 2 diabetes (e.g., family history of diabetes)
Screening for Prediabetes
Regardless of symptoms, the American Diabetes Association advises adults without risk factors to begin screening for prediabetes at age 35.Screening is also recommended for people under 35 who have overweight or obesity and at least one risk factor such as high blood pressure, lack of physical activity, or a close family history of diabetes.Screening for prediabetes is also recommended for children who fulfill all of these three criteria:Have entered puberty or are at least 10 years oldHave overweight or obesityHave at least one other risk factor for type 2 diabetes (e.g., family history of diabetes)
Regardless of symptoms, the American Diabetes Association advises adults without risk factors to begin screening for prediabetes at age 35.
Screening is also recommended for people under 35 who have overweight or obesity and at least one risk factor such as high blood pressure, lack of physical activity, or a close family history of diabetes.
Screening for prediabetes is also recommended for children who fulfill all of these three criteria:
There is no single telltale physical sign of prediabetes.
That said, your physical examination may reveal some warning clues, such as:
As your healthcare provider examines you, they will likely inquire about your medical history, as certain conditions are associated with prediabetes.
Some of these conditions include:
Based on screening recommendations or symptoms, your healthcare provider can confirm a diagnosis of prediabetes using one of three tests:
Besides prediabetes, other conditions may cause elevated blood sugar levels and/or symptoms of hyperglycemia.
Type 2 Diabetes
Prediabetes that is not managed well can lead to type 2 diabetes, a disease ofinsulin resistance.
Progression Into Type 2 DiabetesAround 5% to 10% of people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes yearly.
Progression Into Type 2 Diabetes
Around 5% to 10% of people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes yearly.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetesis anautoimmunedisease of insulin deficiency and is much less common than prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, a person’s immune system attacks and destroys the pancreatic cells that make insulin.
Antibody blood tests, like the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody, can also help in the differentiation process.
Stress Hyperglycemia
Summary
Prediabetes is a common condition where blood sugar levels are elevated but not high enough to meet the threshold for a diagnosis of diabetes. Specific symptoms and findings from a physical exam may point toward a diagnosis of prediabetes.
However, only a healthcare provider can confirm the diagnosis using one of three blood tests—a hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose, or oral glucose tolerance test.
A Word From Verywell
If you are diagnosed with prediabetes, know that this is a wake-up call to change your lifestyle habits. Prediabetes can be reversed with healthy habits including daily exercise and eating a nutritious diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Losing excess weight, stopping smoking, and getting enough sleep are also essential to maintaining normal blood sugar levels.
While there are established criteria to diagnose prediabetes, experts debate whether prediabetes should be categorized as a disease versus a risk factor (for diabetes and cardiovascular disease).Learn MoreStopping Prediabetes From Progressing to Diabetes
While there are established criteria to diagnose prediabetes, experts debate whether prediabetes should be categorized as a disease versus a risk factor (for diabetes and cardiovascular disease).
Learn MoreStopping Prediabetes From Progressing to Diabetes
Learn MoreAMA and CDC Launch Campaign to Let People Know Pre-Diabetes Is Reversible
Most people with prediabetes have no symptoms. If they do, they may include excessive thirst, frequent urge to urinate, blurry vision, extreme tiredness, nerve tingling, and slow-healing sores or cuts.Learn MorePrediabetes Symptoms
Most people with prediabetes have no symptoms. If they do, they may include excessive thirst, frequent urge to urinate, blurry vision, extreme tiredness, nerve tingling, and slow-healing sores or cuts.
Learn MorePrediabetes Symptoms
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevalence of prediabetes among adults.Bansal N.Prediabetes diagnosis and treatment: a review.World J Diabetes. 2015;6(2):296-303. doi:10.4239/wjd.v6.i2.296American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S20-S42. doi:10.2337/dc24-S002Noctor E, Dunne FP.Type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes: the influence of changing diagnostic criteria.World J Diabetes. 2015;6(2):234-244. doi:10.4239/wjd.v6.i2.234Pani A, Gironi I, Di Vieste G, Mion E, Bertuzzi F, Pintaudi B.From prediabetes to type 2 diabetes mellitus in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: lifestyle and pharmacological management.Int J Endocrinol. 2020;2020:6276187. doi:10.1155/2020/6276187Tabák AG, Herder C, Rathmann W, Brunner EJ, Kivimäki M.Prediabetes: a high-risk state for diabetes development.Lancet. 2012;379(9833):2279-2290. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60283-9Pilla SJ, Maruthur NM, Schweitzer MA, et al.The role of laboratory testing in differentiating type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.Obes Surg. 2018;28(1):25-30. doi:10.1007/s11695-017-2804-5Wang X, Cheng FTF, Lam TYT, et al.Stress hyperglycemia is associated with an increased risk of subsequent development of diabetes among bacteremic and nonbacteremic patients.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(6):1438-1444. doi:10.2337/dc21-1682Brown SR.Should adults with prediabetes be prescribed metformin to prevent diabetes mellitus? No: evidence does not show improvements in patient-oriented outcomes.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(3):136-138Galaviz KI, Weber MB, Suvada K, et al.Interventions for reversing prediabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Prev Med. 2022;62(4):614-625. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2021.10.020
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevalence of prediabetes among adults.Bansal N.Prediabetes diagnosis and treatment: a review.World J Diabetes. 2015;6(2):296-303. doi:10.4239/wjd.v6.i2.296American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S20-S42. doi:10.2337/dc24-S002Noctor E, Dunne FP.Type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes: the influence of changing diagnostic criteria.World J Diabetes. 2015;6(2):234-244. doi:10.4239/wjd.v6.i2.234Pani A, Gironi I, Di Vieste G, Mion E, Bertuzzi F, Pintaudi B.From prediabetes to type 2 diabetes mellitus in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: lifestyle and pharmacological management.Int J Endocrinol. 2020;2020:6276187. doi:10.1155/2020/6276187Tabák AG, Herder C, Rathmann W, Brunner EJ, Kivimäki M.Prediabetes: a high-risk state for diabetes development.Lancet. 2012;379(9833):2279-2290. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60283-9Pilla SJ, Maruthur NM, Schweitzer MA, et al.The role of laboratory testing in differentiating type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.Obes Surg. 2018;28(1):25-30. doi:10.1007/s11695-017-2804-5Wang X, Cheng FTF, Lam TYT, et al.Stress hyperglycemia is associated with an increased risk of subsequent development of diabetes among bacteremic and nonbacteremic patients.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(6):1438-1444. doi:10.2337/dc21-1682Brown SR.Should adults with prediabetes be prescribed metformin to prevent diabetes mellitus? No: evidence does not show improvements in patient-oriented outcomes.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(3):136-138Galaviz KI, Weber MB, Suvada K, et al.Interventions for reversing prediabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Prev Med. 2022;62(4):614-625. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2021.10.020
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevalence of prediabetes among adults.Bansal N.Prediabetes diagnosis and treatment: a review.World J Diabetes. 2015;6(2):296-303. doi:10.4239/wjd.v6.i2.296American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S20-S42. doi:10.2337/dc24-S002Noctor E, Dunne FP.Type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes: the influence of changing diagnostic criteria.World J Diabetes. 2015;6(2):234-244. doi:10.4239/wjd.v6.i2.234Pani A, Gironi I, Di Vieste G, Mion E, Bertuzzi F, Pintaudi B.From prediabetes to type 2 diabetes mellitus in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: lifestyle and pharmacological management.Int J Endocrinol. 2020;2020:6276187. doi:10.1155/2020/6276187Tabák AG, Herder C, Rathmann W, Brunner EJ, Kivimäki M.Prediabetes: a high-risk state for diabetes development.Lancet. 2012;379(9833):2279-2290. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60283-9Pilla SJ, Maruthur NM, Schweitzer MA, et al.The role of laboratory testing in differentiating type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.Obes Surg. 2018;28(1):25-30. doi:10.1007/s11695-017-2804-5Wang X, Cheng FTF, Lam TYT, et al.Stress hyperglycemia is associated with an increased risk of subsequent development of diabetes among bacteremic and nonbacteremic patients.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(6):1438-1444. doi:10.2337/dc21-1682Brown SR.Should adults with prediabetes be prescribed metformin to prevent diabetes mellitus? No: evidence does not show improvements in patient-oriented outcomes.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(3):136-138Galaviz KI, Weber MB, Suvada K, et al.Interventions for reversing prediabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Prev Med. 2022;62(4):614-625. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2021.10.020
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevalence of prediabetes among adults.
Bansal N.Prediabetes diagnosis and treatment: a review.World J Diabetes. 2015;6(2):296-303. doi:10.4239/wjd.v6.i2.296
American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S20-S42. doi:10.2337/dc24-S002
Noctor E, Dunne FP.Type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes: the influence of changing diagnostic criteria.World J Diabetes. 2015;6(2):234-244. doi:10.4239/wjd.v6.i2.234
Pani A, Gironi I, Di Vieste G, Mion E, Bertuzzi F, Pintaudi B.From prediabetes to type 2 diabetes mellitus in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: lifestyle and pharmacological management.Int J Endocrinol. 2020;2020:6276187. doi:10.1155/2020/6276187
Tabák AG, Herder C, Rathmann W, Brunner EJ, Kivimäki M.Prediabetes: a high-risk state for diabetes development.Lancet. 2012;379(9833):2279-2290. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60283-9
Pilla SJ, Maruthur NM, Schweitzer MA, et al.The role of laboratory testing in differentiating type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.Obes Surg. 2018;28(1):25-30. doi:10.1007/s11695-017-2804-5
Wang X, Cheng FTF, Lam TYT, et al.Stress hyperglycemia is associated with an increased risk of subsequent development of diabetes among bacteremic and nonbacteremic patients.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(6):1438-1444. doi:10.2337/dc21-1682
Brown SR.Should adults with prediabetes be prescribed metformin to prevent diabetes mellitus? No: evidence does not show improvements in patient-oriented outcomes.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(3):136-138
Galaviz KI, Weber MB, Suvada K, et al.Interventions for reversing prediabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Prev Med. 2022;62(4):614-625. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2021.10.020
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