Prediabetes is a serious health condition where sugar levels are higher than the normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Approximately 1 in 3 adults have pre diabetes. Those with Prediabetes, more than 90% don’t know they have Prediabetes. Prediabetes usually occurs in people who already have some insulin resistance or beta cells in the pancreas are not making enough insulin to keep blood glucose in the normal range. Without enough insulin, extra glucose stays in the blood stream rather than entering the cells.
Signs and Symptoms
Increased Thirst
Frequent Urination
Increased Hunger
Fatigue
Blurred Vision
Numbness or Tingling in the Feet or Hands
Frequent Infections
Slow – Healing Sores
Unintended Weight Loss
People with prediabetes, overtime could develop type 2 Diabetes and problem with heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidney.
The hormonal difference makes the condition different between men and women. Women are more likely than men to develop diabetes related complications as vascular disease.
Prediabetes is determined by average blood sugar over the past 3 months on specific A1C ranges.
| Normal | Below 5.7 % |
| Prediabetes | 5.7 – 6.4 % |
| Diabetes | 6.5% or above |
One can have prediabetes for years but have no clear symptoms so it often goes undetected until serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes is diagnosed. One possible sign of prediabetes is darkened skin on certain parts of the body. Affected areas include neck, armpits, and groin.
People are more likely to get prediabetes if:
- Being overweight.
- Being 45 years or older.
- Having parent, brother, sister with type 2 Diabetes.
- Being physically inactive less than 3 times a week.
- Ever having gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds.
- Having polycystic ovary syndrome.
- Eat lot of red and processed meat, drink sugary beverages, don’t eat much fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains or olive oil.
- Have high cholesterol, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol.
- Have sleep problems, like sleep apnea, or work changing shifts or night shifts.
- Certain medicines such as glucocorticoids, some antipsychotics, and some medicine for HIV.
- Hormonal disorders.
