Prediabetes – Symptoms and Causes
If you have ever visited a doctor, you might have heard about prediabetes, which means that your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetic. Your doctor may advise you to watch what you eat and lose weight to prevent diabetes, which is a serious chronic disease that causes many complications. In this blog, you will learn about prediabetes, what it means, what to do about it, and whether or not it’s a serious issue.
Your blood sugar should be ideally between 85 and 99. If it’s higher than 126 and your A1C is over 6.5, then you have type 2 diabetes. A prediabetic is someone who is trending towards becoming a diabetic but is not fully sick yet. It’s like having a partially deflated tire; you’re not fully sick, but you’re not healthy either. The goal is to keep your body fully inflated and functioning correctly to be healthy.
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Symptoms and Causes
People with prediabetes may not experience any symptoms, so it’s important to get your blood sugar levels checked regularly if you have risk factors for the condition.
The causes of prediabetes are similar to those of type 2 diabetes and can include being overweight or obese, having a family history of diabetes, being physically inactive, and having high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. Age, ethnicity, and a history of gestational diabetes can also increase your risk.
If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, there are steps you can take to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. These include making healthy lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise. In some cases, medication may also be prescribed to help manage blood sugar levels.
While prediabetes may not have any noticeable symptoms, it’s important to take it seriously and take steps to improve your health. With the right care and lifestyle changes, it’s possible to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and reduce your risk of developing other health complications associated with the condition.
Symptoms
- Often no symptoms or mild symptoms like fatigue or increased thirst
- Darkened skin on certain areas of the body, such as the neck, armpits, elbows, knees, or knuckles
- Frequent urination or increased urination at night
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores or cuts
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Causes
- Insulin resistance, which means your body doesn’t use insulin effectively
- Being overweight or obese, especially around the waist
- Physical inactivity
- Genetics and family history of type 2 diabetes
- Age, as the risk of prediabetes increases after age 45
- Gestational diabetes during pregnancy, which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women
Key Takeaways
- Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.
- Prediabetes is usually asymptomatic, so it’s important to get regular blood sugar checks if you’re at risk.
- Prediabetes can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes, but it’s reversible with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
- Risk factors for prediabetes include being overweight or obese, having a family history of diabetes, being physically inactive, and having high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.
- Treatment for prediabetes involves making lifestyle changes to improve blood sugar levels, such as losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly.
- It’s important to manage prediabetes to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of other health complications such as heart disease and stroke.
