Prediabetes is no Joke. Time to Take Action

If you have prediabetes, you know your blood sugar levels are higher than they should be. It raises your risk of type 2 diabetes and can be a hazard for your heart. 

What is it?

Prediabetes is a warning sign that you are at risk for getting type 2 diabetes. It means that your blood sugar is higher than it should be. But it's not high enough to be diabetes.

The food you eat naturally turns into sugar. Your body uses the sugar for energy. Normally, an organ called the pancreas makes insulin. Insulin allows the sugar in your blood to get into your body's cells. But sometimes the body can't use insulin the right way. So the sugar stays in your blood instead. This is called insulin resistance. The buildup of sugar in your blood means you have prediabetes.

Prediabetes is also called impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. Most people who get type 2 diabetes have prediabetes first.

What causes it?

Prediabetes is caused by a buildup of sugar in your blood. Insulin allows sugar to get into your body's cells. When your body can't use insulin the right way, the sugar doesn't move into your body's cells. And that's how it builds up in your blood.

What are the symptoms? Most of the time, people with prediabetes do not have symptoms.

How is it diagnosed? Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history. You will also get a physical exam and blood glucose testing. The results help your doctor see if you have prediabetes and are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

How is prediabetes treated?

Prediabetes can be treated by making lifestyle changes, taking medicine, or doing both. Lifestyle changes include losing weight if you need to, having healthy eating habits, and being active. Treatment may help get your blood sugar level back to a more normal range. It could help you prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

Prevention 

Your risk for prediabetes is greater if you're at a higher weight and physically inactive. To help prevent prediabetes:

Stay at a weight that is healthy for you. Try to lose 7% to 10% of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, aim to lose 14 to 20 pounds. The best way to lose weight is to cut calories and be more active.

Make healthy food choices. Try eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein foods like beans, fish, and lean meats. Cut back on foods that have a lot of fat, salt, and sugar.

Be active. When you're active, your body uses glucose. The more active you are, the more glucose your body uses for energy. This keeps the sugar from building up in your blood. Exercise can also improve insulin resistance. For many people, walking is a great way to start. If you already have prediabetes, these same steps can keep it from turning into type 2 diabetes.

More to Know...

We will explore What Happens, When to call a Doctor, Treatment Overviews, and more in our next issue.