Written and medically reviewed by Dorcas Morak, Pharm.D
Prediabetes is when your blood sugar levels are higher than usual but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. Without intervention, prediabetes can lead to long-term complications affecting your heart, blood vessels, and kidneys. The good news is that it’s not inevitable. Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Prediabetes?
Prediabetes often goes unnoticed because it usually doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms. However, there are subtle signs that may indicate an issue. These include darkened skin on the neck, armpits, or groin. Also, there can be classic diabetes symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, or blurry vision, which may suggest progression to type 2 diabetes.
What Causes Prediabetes?
Prediabetes happens when your body doesn’t process sugar (glucose) properly. Usually, your pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that helps sugar move from your bloodstream into your cells to be used for energy. In prediabetes, this process doesn’t work as well, leading to higher levels of sugar in your blood.
Am I at Risk for Prediabetes?
Several factors can increase your risk, including:
- Weight: Being overweight is a primary risk factor.
- Inactivity: The less active you are, the greater your risk.
- Age: While prediabetes can occur at any age, the risk increases after 35.
- Family history: If a parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes, your risk goes up.
- Race or ethnicity: Certain groups, including Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian American populations, are at higher risk.
How is Prediabetes Diagnosed?
Doctors use a few key tests to diagnose prediabetes:
- A1C Test: This measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. A result between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes.
- Fasting Blood Sugar Test: A blood sugar level of 100–125 mg/dL after fasting confirms prediabetes.
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: This checks your blood sugar before and after consuming a sugary drink. A level between 140 and 199 mg/dL after two hours suggests prediabetes.
How Can I Prevent Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is often reversible with simple lifestyle changes:
- Eat Healthy Foods: Focus on whole grains, lean proteins, vegetables, and healthy fats. Avoid sugary beverages and processed foods.
- Get Active: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate weekly exercise, such as walking, biking, or swimming.
- Lose Excess Weight: Even a slight weight loss—5% to 7% of your body weight—can significantly reduce your risk.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking increases insulin resistance, making it harder to control blood sugar levels.
Can Medications Help with Prediabetes?
In some cases, lifestyle changes might not be enough to manage prediabetes, especially if your risk of diabetes is high. Medications like metformin can help lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
What Happens if Prediabetes Goes Untreated?
Without intervention, prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes, which brings a host of complications, including:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney damage
- Nerve damage
- Vision loss
What Can I Do Today to Take Control?
The first step is awareness. Schedule a screening with your healthcare provider if you think you’re at risk. Use this opportunity to discuss any symptoms, concerns, or family history of diabetes. If cost is a concern, don’t let that stop you. By joining the RxLess® Assurance Plan, you can access accurate medication discounts and get the best possible price, just download the free app. Staying proactive and informed can make managing prediabetes much easier—and much more affordable.
