Prediabetes is an indicator of Type 2 diabetes. Which shows your blood sugar levels are raised but not to the point of Type 2 diabetes. You can control or reverse prediabetes by making lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity and altering your dietary patterns and habits.
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes occurs when blood sugar levels rise but do not reach the threshold for Type 2 diabetes.
Healthy blood sugar (glucose) levels range from 70 to 99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). If you have undetected prediabetes, your levels are normally between 100 and 125 mg/dL.
According to the American Diabetes Association, adults 45 years old with prediabetes have a 10-year risk of getting Type 2 diabetes (9% to 14%). The good news is that prediabetes can be reversed via healthy lifestyle modifications.
Prediabetes is extremely frequent. Researchers estimate that 84 million adults in the United States have prediabetes. It affects more than one-third of adults under the age of 65 and half of those over the age of 65 in the United States.
More than 80% of persons with prediabetes are unaware of their condition, which often has no symptoms.
Also Read: Diabetes: Causes, symptoms, and different stages of the disorder
Symptoms and Causes
What are the signs of prediabetes?
Most people with prediabetes do not experience any symptoms. This is why it is critical to see your primary care physician on a regular basis so that they can do screenings, such as a basic metabolic panel, to monitor your blood sugar levels. This is the only technique to determine whether you have prediabetes.
Symptoms of prediabetes may include:
- Acanthosis nigricans is characterized by darkened skin in the armpits, back, and sides of the neck.
- Skin tags.
- Eye changes that can lead to diabetes-related retinopathy.
What causes prediabetes?
The etiology of prediabetes is the same as the cause of Type 2 diabetes: insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance occurs when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver do not respond appropriately to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that is necessary for life and regulates blood sugar levels. Elevated blood sugar levels occur when there is insufficient insulin or when the body’s response to insulin is inadequate.
Several factors can contribute to insulin resistance, including:
- Genetic
- Excess bodily fat, particularly in the abdomen and organs (visceral fat).
- Physical inactivity.
- Eating highly processed, high-carbohydrate foods and saturated fats on a regular basis.
- Certain drugs, such as prolonged steroid use.
- Hormonal diseases include hypothyroidism and Cushing syndrome.
- Chronic stress and a lack of adequate sleep (sleep apnea).
What are the possible complications of prediabetes?
The biggest issue of prediabetes is that it progresses to Type 2 diabetes. Undiagnosed or undermanaged type 2 diabetes raises the risk of various complications, including:
- Heart attack and stroke.
- Eye issues (diabetes-related retinopathy).
- Kidney issues (diabetes-related nephropathy).
- Nerve damage (diabetes-related neuropathy).
Prediabetes can be reversed, but diabetes consequences are rarely reversible. This is why prevention and/or effective management are essential.
Diagnosis and Tests
How is prediabetes diagnosed?
Healthcare practitioners use routine blood testing to detect prediabetes. If you have risk factors for prediabetes, your doctor may recommend more frequent testing.
The following tests can check for prediabetes:
- Fasting plasma glucose test: This tests your blood after you have not eaten or drunk anything other than water for at least eight hours (fasted). Both basic and comprehensive metabolic panels contain a glucose test. Providers frequently request them to gain an overall picture of your health. Get tested now
- The A1C test shows your average blood glucose level over the last two to three months.
Your provider would diagnose you with prediabetes if your:
- The fasting plasma glucose test results range from 100 to 125 mg/dL.
- A1C ranges from 5.7% to 6.4% (normal is less than 5.7%, diabetes is 6.5% or more).
Management and Treatment
How can I reverse prediabetes?
Healthy lifestyle modifications are the most effective strategy to treat—and potentially reverse—prediabetes. Eating nutritious foods and exercising on a regular basis will help you bring your blood sugar levels to normal and prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes.
Even minor adjustments can greatly reduce your risk of acquiring Type 2 diabetes, such as
- Weight loss: Your healthcare practitioner may advise you to lose extra weight in order to treat insulin resistance and prediabetes. According to one study, decreasing 7% of your body weight can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 58%. [Read: Walking for Weight Loss: How To Burn More Calories And Lose Weight]
- Regular Activity: Regular moderate-intensity physical activity promotes glucose use and improves muscle insulin sensitivity. A single session of moderate-intensity exercise can enhance glucose absorption from the blood to the muscles by at least 40%. This helps to reduce blood sugar levels. Aim for 30 minutes each day, five days a week, for a total of 150 minutes per week. Try walking or any other exercise you enjoy.
- Diet for prediabetes: Eliminating additional sweets, replacing simple carbohydrates with complex carbohydrates, and eating more vegetables can help your blood sugar recover to normal levels. Your healthcare practitioner will assist you in determining the optimal long-term prediabetes diet for you.
Lowering your risk factors for prediabetes can typically help you return to normal blood sugar levels. You may
- Work with a nutritionist or dietitian to develop healthy eating habits that you can keep to in the long run, such as the Mediterranean diet.
- Discover strategies to decrease or manage stress.
- Quit smoking.
- Get a diagnosis and/or treatment for any sleep condition (sleep apnea).
- Manage associated conditions such as excessive cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Find support groups where you can meet others who are facing similar issues.
There are numerous initiatives available to assist people in living healthy lifestyles and overcoming prediabetes. Talk to your provider about finding a plan that works for you, or visit the National Diabetes Prevention Program for resources.
Prevention
Can I prevent prediabetes?
The measures for preventing prediabetes are the same as those for correcting it and preventing Type 2 diabetes:
- Exercise on a regular basis.
- Maintaining a healthy weight. [Read: 10 Powerful Ayurvedic Tips to Burn fat]
- Eating healthy foods.
- Not smoking.
Unfortunately, some persons have such significant genetic risk factors that lifestyle adjustments alone will not prevent them from getting prediabetes.
This article is just for reference purpose. You must consult physician to understand better
