What is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a condition where your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are higher than usual, but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. It is often considered a precursor to diabetes. Without treatment, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes. However, lifestyle changes can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes is common, affecting about one in three people. Most individuals do not experience symptoms of prediabetes and may only discover the condition through testing. Prediabetes increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. Long-term complications associated with type 2 diabetes can begin during the prediabetes stage, making it a serious health concern.
Symptoms of Prediabetes
Prediabetes typically does not present with many noticeable symptoms, leading to about 90% of affected individuals being unaware of their condition. However, if symptoms do occur, they may include small skin growths, darkened skin in armpits or around the neck, increased appetite, unexplained weight changes, high body mass index (BMI), fatigue, weakness, sweating, blurred vision, bleeding gums, slow wound healing, and frequent skin infections.
Causes of Prediabetes
Prediabetes occurs when the body becomes less responsive to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin normally allows glucose from food to enter cells for energy. In prediabetes, cells do not respond to insulin efficiently, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. This insulin resistance results in excess glucose remaining in the bloodstream, contributing to the characteristic features of prediabetes.
Risk Factors for Prediabetes
Several factors increase the risk of developing prediabetes, including excess weight or obesity, lack of physical activity, family history of prediabetes, age over 45, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, gestational diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and belonging to certain ethnic groups.
Diagnosing Prediabetes
To diagnose prediabetes, healthcare providers may recommend blood tests such as a fasting plasma glucose test.
A1C Test: The A1C test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past three months and is reported as a percentage. Higher percentages indicate elevated blood sugar levels.
Fasting Glucose Test: This test measures your blood sugar levels at a specific moment after fasting for at least eight hours.
Glucose Tolerance and Random Plasma Glucose Test: The oral glucose tolerance test assesses your body’s response to glucose by measuring blood sugar levels before and after consuming 75 grams of glucose solution. The random plasma glucose test measures blood sugar levels at any time, regardless of when you last ate.
Prediabetes Monitoring: If diagnosed with prediabetes, regular blood sugar level checks every one to two years are recommended to track progression towards type 2 diabetes and to adjust treatment as needed.
Prediabetes Treatment: Lifestyle changes such as consuming nutritious foods, engaging in regular exercise, weight loss if overweight, reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and managing stress can help manage or even reverse prediabetes. Medications like Metformin, Acarbose, and Ozempic may be prescribed by healthcare providers if necessary. Weight loss medications like Semaglutide can also assist in achieving weight loss goals.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound, compounded tirzepatide)
Metformin
Topiramate
Bupropion
Naltrexone
Your healthcare provider can determine the suitability of these medications for you.
Prediabetes Prevention Tips
In many instances, prediabetes can be prevented. Various treatments are available to halt the progression of prediabetes.
Preventative measures for prediabetes include:
– Maintaining a healthy weight
– Consuming a balanced diet
– Incorporating regular physical activity into your daily routine
– Limiting alcohol consumption
– Quitting smoking
If you are at an elevated risk of developing prediabetes, discuss it with your healthcare provider. They may advise more frequent screenings. Typically, men aged 30 to 45 with an average risk of prediabetes should undergo screening at least once every three years.
Monitoring your blood sugar levels and prioritizing your health are crucial steps to take.
This article was originally published on Hims.com and is syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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