You might have pre-Diabetes and not even know it. As the name suggests, this serious disease is a precursor to Diabetes, specifically Type 2 Diabetes. Pre-Diabetes, also known as impaired glucose tolerance, affects more than 57 million adults in the U.S. Those with pre-Diabetes have higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, but below the threshold to diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
As the epidemic of Diabetes continues to grow, doctors are recognizing the importance of diagnosing pre-Diabetes. People with pre-Diabetes typically do not have any symptoms, yet complications of Diabetes, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, can occur before the disease is ever diagnosed. If pre-Diabetes is diagnosed, the condition can be addressed with lifestyle changes to prevent or forestall the onset of Type 2 Diabetes and complications.
Testing for Pre-Diabetes
If you are at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes, you should be tested for pre-Diabetes. You should be tested if you meet any of the criteria below:
- You are over 45 years old
- You have a family history of Type 2 Diabetes
- You are a woman who had gestational Diabetes or delivered a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- You are a woman who has had polycystic ovary syndrome
- You belong to a high-risk ethnic group, including African Americans, Latinos, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans
- You are overweight or obese (body mass index greater than 25), with a high proportion of fat around the abdomen
- You have one or more symptoms of metabolic syndrome, including high “bad” cholesterol (LDL), low “good” cholesterol (HDL), high triglycerides, high blood pressure
- You are sedentary (aka “couch potato”) and do not exercise regularly
Diagnosing Pre-Diabetes
There are two different lab tests used to diagnose impaired glucose tolerance, including the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Both tests can determine how efficiently your body processes glucose.
During the fasting plasma glucose test, or FPG, your blood sugar will be tested after you have fasted for 8 hours. If your blood glucose level is higher than normal after the FPG test, you have impaired fasting glucose.
For FPG, test results are interpreted as follows:
- Normal = blood sugar level less than 100 mg/dL
- Pre-Diabetes = blood glucose level between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL
- Diabetes = blood sugar level greater than 126 mg/dL
The oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT, adds a second measurement of your blood sugar. Your blood glucose level will first be measured after you fast, then again 2 hours after you drink a liquid containing a large amount of glucose. If your blood sugar level is higher than normal after drinking the glucose beverage, you have impaired glucose tolerance.
For OGTT, test results are interpreted as follows:
- Normal = blood sugar level less than 140 mg/dL
- Pre-Diabetes = blood glucose level between 140 mg/dL and 199 mg/dL
- Diabetes = blood sugar level greater than 200 mg/dL
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
Fortunately, if pre-Diabetes is diagnosed, you can prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes and the complications associated with the disease by making lifestyle changes, including:
- Lose weight – losing just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can have a significant impact
- Eat a healthier diet (foods with whole grains, high fiber, and low cholesterol, sodium and sugar)
- Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes
- Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night
- Quit smoking
Implementing lifestyle changes such as these can prevent Diabetes, and could even decrease high blood sugar levels to their normal, healthy range.
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