What is Prediabetes?

November is National Diabetes Month, and we would like to take this opportunity to dig into a very common precursor condition: prediabetes.

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes is when a person’s blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not yet at the point of diabetes.

In the United States, more than 33% of American adults and 18% (and rising) of adolescents have prediabetes. This condition increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as heart disease and stroke.

What causes prediabetes?

Patients with prediabetes do not properly process glucose. And, while the exact cause is unknown, family history, lifestyle and genetics appear to play an important role in a person’s likelihood of developing this condition.

What are the symptoms of prediabetes?

The majority of people with prediabetes do not exhibit symptoms. Those who do may experience:

• Acanthosis nigricans – or darkened skin of the armpit or back and sides of the neck
• Skin tags
• Eye changes that can lead to diabetes-related retinopathy

The only way to know for sure that you have diabetes is through testing with your primary care provider. He or she will likely perform a fasting plasma glucose test or A1C test.

Can I prevent prediabetes from turning into type 2 diabetes?

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) sponsors two major studies–the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and DPP Outcomes Study (DPPOS)–that have informed type 2 diabetes prevention across the globe.

The DPP found that those who are high-risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the disease by making lifestyle changes that result in moderate weight loss. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Mediterranean Diet, which emphasizes whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, is the gold standard. Regular exercise appropriate to a person’s age and health is also important, as is avoiding smoking and managing stress.

As always, patients should consult their doctor before making any lifestyle modifications.

References:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/10/31/a-proclamation-on-national-diabetes-month-2024/

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diabetes/prediabetes

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/prediabetes#:~:text=Prediabetes%20can%20be%20seen%20as,Taking%20medication%20can%20also%20help.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prediabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355278#:~:text=Insulin%20is%20produced%20by%20a,Inactivity.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21498-prediabetes

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431057/#:~:text=Acanthosis%20nigricans%20is%20a%20velvety,Go%20to:

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/about-niddk/research-areas/diabetes/diabetes-prevention-program-dpp

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/prediabetes-diet