What is Pre-Diabetes?

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have pre-diabetes, a condition where blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

There are 79 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes.1 The good news is studies show that people with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes by up to 58 percent by making healthy lifestyle changes such as weight loss and increasing their physical activity levels. They may even be able to return their blood glucose levels to the normal range.1

The following are tests to diagnose pre-diabetes2:
Fasting Blood Glucose (Sugar) Test
70-100mg/dL Normal
100-125mg/dL Pre-diabetes
126 mg/dL or higher mg/dL Type 2 Diabetes

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
140mg/dL or less Normal
140-199mg/dL Pre-diabetes
200mg/dL or higher Type 2 Diabetes

Why diagnose with pre-diabetes?
There is currently no cure for type 2 diabetes, but it can be managed with medication, diet and exercise. With pre-diabetes, the progression to type 2 can be prevented. With early detection of higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, pre-diabetes can be reversed. If you think you may be at risk, ask your doctor about pre-diabetes at your next wellness visit.

To prevent and treat pre-diabetes it is important to make healthy lifestyle changes.
· Diet: Choose whole-grain products over refined white grains. Look for products that are high in fiber but low in saturated fat, trans fat and sodium. Practice portion control, and aim for a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and lean sources of protein.
· Exercise: Get active and engage in physical activity most days of the week. Aim for 30-60 minutes of physical activity every day. If you cannot exercise for that long, break up the workout into 10 minute increments throughout the day.
· Healthy weight: Achieve or maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, losing just 5-10% of your body weight (10-20lbs if you are 200lbs) can drastically reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
· Sleep. Recent studies also suggest that getting a good night’s sleep can help to keep blood glucose (sugar) stable. Plan for getting at least 6 hours or more of sleep each night.2

1 American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/pre-diabetes/how-to-prevent-pre-diabetes.html
2. Mayoclinic. Pre diabetes. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prediabetes/DS00624