What is Prediabetes? Early Signs and Prevention Tips

November 19, 2024

What is Prediabetes? Early Signs and Prevention Tips

Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
19 November, 2024

What is Prediabetes? Early Signs and Prevention Tips

Do you think that diabetes related symptoms start appearing very randomly? No! They do not! In fact, there are definite albeit silent signs which tell you that blood glucose levels are higher than usual, way before you actually get an official type 2 diabetes diagnosis. These signs can also be termed prediabetes symptoms. There is a good chance you won’t catch these subtle changes unless you get assessed in some regular manner- like a periodic HbA1C test for example. The good news is that you can actually try to reverse these symptoms, but you should commit to making long term lifestyle related changes.

Early Symptoms of Prediabetes and how to Recognize Them-

Prediabetes, also called borderline diabetes, is a dangerous place to be at, simply because there are no overt symptoms associated with the condition. With diabetes, you know the common symptoms- feeling very thirsty, wounds not healing properly, peeing too often, immune system related issues and tiredness etc. but with prediabetes, it is a little harder to pinpoint, unless you have blood tests done. So, a normal person has about 99 mg/dL or less of glucose in blood. Higher than this and you are said to be prediabetic, with values between 100-125 mg/dL respectively.

Prediabetes Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies-

With prediabetes, any one of these two can happen- either your pancreas are not making enough insulin or the cells in your body are not able to recognise it (insulin resistance) – both of which can cause an increase in blood glucose levels over time. Some well known risk factors include weight gain, poorly managed dietary expectations, leading a sedentary life, ageing, having gestational diabetes in the past, race and a family history of suffering from diabetes – which can all lead to you being prediabetic. The other signs that you should know are higher triglyceride values, low HDL cholesterol levels and high BP respectively.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes After A Prediabetes Diagnosis-

You should not worry too much if you have prediabetes and instead begin to focus on these areas-

Planning meals in a systematic manner.
Making an effort to eat lots of fresh produce and not heavily processed and greasy or salty items.
Working out regularly to protect your heart also has the added advantage of keeping your weight in check.
You should stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
You should just begin to move and not be a couch potato!

Conclusion

India has a very high number of prediabetic individuals- over 15% of the population does not even know that they have this condition. Though, the symptoms aren’t going to be very noticeable, you should still look out for signs like excessive thirst and urination, weight fluctuations etc. In effect, you suffer from a metabolic syndrome of sorts when you are prediabetic. It can also mean a systemic change with the liver, kidneys or the heart getting damaged, along with neuropathy and vision related issues if you don’t deal with it soon. So, staying vigilant and then taking care of your body is the only way to deal with prediabetes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if I have prediabetes?

You cannot tell since you won’t have any symptoms as such. This is why you should make it a habit to check your HbA1C levels every 6 months or so, just to keep track of your glucose values and general health parameters.

What foods should I avoid if I have prediabetes?

You should avoid white rice or white bread, very oily and salty or sweet snacks and try to eat a healthy diet which has a little of everything- as in with 5 food groups for every meal. You should avoid fruit juices, dried fruits, sauces, alcohol (normally molasses based). Follow the 5-20 rule with foods- with items that are good for you- look for labels which say 20% or higher of Daily value (DV) while if you want to reduce sugar or salt, then 5% or less DV is a good place to be at.

Is prediabetes reversible, and how can I reverse it?

Yes, it is reversible if you lose some weight, begin to exercise more frequently and not stress out too much about it all.

What tests confirm a diagnosis of prediabetes?

While an Hb A1C test should be fine, you may also be asked to get fasting plasma glucose values and a two hour glucose tolerance test where you will be given a 75g glucose solution. 2 hours later, your blood is drawn to test for glucose levels. A value of 100-125 mg/dL means you are prediabetic.

Can weight loss reduce the risk of prediabetes turning into diabetes?

If you lose anywhere between 5-7% of your total weight, then the risk of getting prediabetes goes down by over 55%. Also, you are preventing insulin resistance this way.