Prediabetesis an early warning sign that you may be headed towards full-blowntype 2 diabetes. Prediabetes means you have a higher than normal blood sugar (glucose), but not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes.
While prediabetes may put you at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, lifestyle changes can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems.
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Signs and Risk Factors for Prediabetes
You can have prediabetes for years but have no clear symptoms, so it often goes undetected until serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes show up. About 88 million (approximately 1 in 3) adults in the United States live with prediabetes, but as many as 85% of people with the disease are unaware of it.
Screening Recommendations
If you or a loved one is concerned about prediabetes take aCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) risk assessment. The test takes about one minute and allows you to print a copy of your results so you can review the results with your healthcare provider.
The risk factors for diabetes include:
While it is unclear the exact role that race and ethnicity play in prediabetes, research has shown that African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at higher risk.
Causes and Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes
Get Started Now
The first step in preventing the progression of prediabetes is to lead a healthy lifestyle. The sooner you implement lifestyle changes the more you increase your chances of staving off diabetes.
Even prior to getting a formal diagnosis, it is important for any person with the above risk factors to take a CDC risk assessment and adopt healthy lifestyle changes including weight loss, moderate-intensity exercise, and eating a balanced diet consisting of fruits and vegetables.
Prediabetes means your body is not producing enoughinsulinor the insulin does not work properly. What makes prediabetes different from diabetes is that the sugar that has built up in your blood has not yet caused severe organ damage, a major outcome of type 2 diabetes.
Losing Excess Weight
Losing weight can decrease insulin resistance, allowing it to be better utilized in the body. Research has shown that losing a small amount of weight can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.A small amount of weight loss means as low as 5% to 7% of your body weight, or just 10 to 14 pounds for an overweight 200-pound person.
Boosting Physical Activity
Regular physical activity means getting at least 150 minutes a week of brisk walking or a similar activity. Biking, running, swimming, and hiking are highly recommended activities. Most healthcare professionals suggest 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (enough to break a sweat) five days a week.
Get Tested
A simple blood test is used to diagnose prediabetes. The most popular, comprehensive, and accurate test is the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test.
A1C Test
It is important to note that the hemoglobin A1C test is not perfect. Certain conditions like pregnancy and some blood disorders can lead to inaccurate test results.
What to Expect With the A1C Test
Fasting Plasma Glucose Test
A second blood test used to diagnose prediabetes is a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test. This is normally the first test healthcare providers use because it renders immediate results. A blood sample is taken after you fast for at least eight hours or overnight. The interpretation includes:
What to Expect With a Fasting Blood Glucose Test
Anoral glucose tolerance testor a random blood sugar test are also sometimes, but less commonly, used to diagnose prediabetes.
Certain medications can affect your blood sugar levels. Before your test, tell your healthcare provider all the medications that you’re using, including herbal, prescription, and over-the-counter medications.
After Diagnosis With Prediabetes
By working with a trained coach to make realistic goals; discovering healthy food alternatives and personalized exercise routines; finding ways to manage stress and track progress; and joining support groups with similar goals and challenges, the NDPP sets you up for success in adopting lasting lifestyle changes.
Contact a health professional immediately if you are feeling general symptoms of diabetes including:
High blood sugars over a long period of time can damage organs throughout the body. The longer you wait the greater the risk of severe complications.
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms and Complications
6 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.American Diabetes Association.Prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prediabetes - your chance to prevent type 2 diabetes.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-S002US Preventive Services Task Force, Davidson KW, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. 2021;326(8):736-743. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.12531Testing.com.Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test.American Diabetes Association.Understanding diabetes diagnosis.
6 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.American Diabetes Association.Prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prediabetes - your chance to prevent type 2 diabetes.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-S002US Preventive Services Task Force, Davidson KW, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. 2021;326(8):736-743. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.12531Testing.com.Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test.American Diabetes Association.Understanding diabetes diagnosis.
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.
American Diabetes Association.Prediabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prediabetes - your chance to prevent type 2 diabetes.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-S002US Preventive Services Task Force, Davidson KW, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. 2021;326(8):736-743. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.12531Testing.com.Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test.American Diabetes Association.Understanding diabetes diagnosis.
American Diabetes Association.Prediabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prediabetes - your chance to prevent type 2 diabetes.
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
US Preventive Services Task Force, Davidson KW, Barry MJ, et al.Screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. 2021;326(8):736-743. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.12531
Testing.com.Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test.
American Diabetes Association.Understanding diabetes diagnosis.
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