Am I at risk of having prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a common condition that affects one in three U.S. adults. Prediabetes increases your risk for having a stroke, heart disease and developing type 2 diabetes. A major concern with prediabetes is that you can go years without showing any warning signs or symptoms, making it even more important to understand what it is and if you are at risk.
Prediabetes is a warning sign for type 2 diabetes
“Those with prediabetes have a higher amount of blood sugar, or glucose, than normal,” Jennifer Jerde, RN, Health Navigator, Ridgeview, explains. “These high levels are not quite high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes, but the condition should be taken just as seriously.”
As your body digests food, your pancreas sends insulin to your blood which allows sugar to enter your cells, thereby lowering the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. With prediabetes, your body does not process sugar properly, resulting in a build-up of sugar in your bloodstream. This build-up can cause long-term damage to your heart, blood vessels and kidneys.
Eight out of 10 people don’t know they are prediabetic
Considering the number of people who are affected by prediabetes, it’s important to understand if you may be at risk. Risk factors include:
+ Being overweight
+ Being 40 years or older
+ Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
+ Being physically active less than three times a week
+ Having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
+ Smoking tobacco
+ Having polycystic ovarian syndrome
There are three tests available to determine if you have prediabetes. These tests include:
+ A1C test: This blood test measures your blood glucose levels over the past two to three months.
+ Fasting blood glucose test: A blood sample will be taken after you have fasted for at least eight hours.
+ Oral glucose tolerance test: This test is less commonly used, except during pregnancy. For this test, you must fast overnight and then drink a sugary liquid in your provider’s office or lab testing site. After drinking the sugary beverage, your blood sugar levels will be tested periodically for the following two hours.
Prediabetes is a serious condition that can quickly worsen
“Those with prediabetes are at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes—this can happen sooner if steps are not taken to prevent this,” Jerde said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if left untreated, prediabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes within five years.
The good news is that you can greatly reduce your risk of developing prediabetes and even reverse it by implementing healthy lifestyle choices. Jerde recommends eating a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains and increasing daily physical activity. If you are overweight, losing 5% to 7% of your total body weight will also significantly reduce your risk.
As noted above, prediabetes doesn’t usually have any signs or symptoms, until it begins to develop into type 2 diabetes. When this occurs, there are several warning signs, such as: increased thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, unintended weight loss, frequent urination, and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet. Don’t wait for these signs to present themselves. If you are concerned about your health, schedule an appointment with a Ridgeview provider today.
