What is prediabetes?
Before people develop Type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes.
Prediabetes (formerly called “borderline” diabetes) means a person's blood
sugar (glucose) level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be
diagnosed with diabetes. People with prediabetes can prevent or delay the development
of Type 2 diabetes by reducing their blood sugar level by eating healthy meals and being active.
Are you at risk?
One in three adults in the United States has prediabetes—and most don’t
know they have it. You can figure out if you’re at risk for prediabetes by
answering the following questions:
- Are you over 45 years of age
or older?
- Are you overweight?
- Are you physically inactive
(sedentary)?
- Are you a member of a racial/ethnic
minority population—Alaska Native, Asian American, black, Hispanic, Native
American or Pacific Islander?
- Do you have a family history
of diabetes?
- Do you have a history of gestational
diabetes, or did you give birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds?
If you answered yes to these questions, you could be at risk for
prediabetes.
How can you find out
if you have prediabetes?
Most people with prediabetes don’t have any symptoms. You can find out if
you’re at risk by taking the prediabetes risk test. If you are at risk, follow
up with your doctor for a simple test that measures the amount of sugar in your
blood.
If you do have prediabetes, research has shown that you can prevent or
delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes by:
- Losing a modest amount of
weight
- Getting at least 30 minutes of
physical activity—a brisk walk, dancing, gardening or yard work—on most days
of the week
- Eating more fruits and vegetables every day
Don’t worry if you can’t reach your ideal body weight. Losing 5-7 percent
of your weight can significantly reduce your risk for developing Type 2
diabetes by 50 percent.