What is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a condition characterized by glucose levels that are high, but not as high as in the case of Type 2 diabetes. In most cases, there are no specific symptoms, and the condition remains undiagnosed for a long time. Prediabetes is also known as impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. This condition affects millions of people throughout the country, and is often known to occur before developing into Type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes is now considered to be a condition that may lead to more serious health problems. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment of prediabetes will help to prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes, which is associated with health conditions, like heart and kidney diseases.
Prediabetes may remain asymptomatic in most cases, but when present, the most common symptoms are similar to that of Type 2 diabetes.
The common symptoms for prediabetes that are similar to Type 2 diabetes include:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
One of the warning signs that show the increased risk of diabetes include dark areas on the skin, called acanthosis nigricans. The actual cause for prediabetes is stll unknown. Presence of abdominal fat and physical inactivity increase the risk for prediabetes.
One should test for prediabetes if you:
- Are over 45-years-old
- Have a body mass index above 25
- Are physically inactive
- Have a family history of diabetes
- Have a history of gestational diabetes
- Have polycystic ovary syndrome
- Had abnormal blood sugar tests
- Have a history of heart disease
- Have nsulin resistance
Identifying prediabetes is very important in preventing Type 2 diabetes, and other associated diseases, like heart disease.
Some of the complications caused by Type 2 diabetes include:
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol levels
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Blindness
Prediabetes can be treated by:
- Having a healthy, balanced diet – eating food that are less in calories and fat and high in fiber is the best diet plan for reducing chances of prediabetes.
- Losing extra body weight – losing 5-10% of the body weight reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes considerably
- Medications – oral medications may be helpful if there is a high risk of diabetes.
- Regular exercise — regular exercise for thirty minutes every day is found to reduce the risk of diabetes by 60%.
- Quitting smoking
- Treating hypertension
- Treating high cholesterol levels
- Getting adequate rest
