Estimates show that approximately 57 million American have a condition called pre-diabetes. What makes this statistic so alarming is that most people have no idea what the condition means. Even more alarming, is that most people do not know what the pre-diabetes consequences can be if they do not take steps to reverse the condition.

Pre-diabetes is when a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but lower than what is considered diabetes. Almost no one goes from normal blood sugar levels straight to having type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a person’s early warning sign, or get out of jail free card, before they progress to diabetes. The good news is that developing diabetes once you have pre-diabetes is not a foregone conclusion.

Why is early detection important?

Studies definitively show that you can often avoid diabetes through losing weight and proper diet and exercise. I challenge you to find one person with type 2 diabetes who wouldn’t want to have pre-diabetes again in hopes of avoiding progressing to diabetes. Early diagnosis is also important to avoid long term health consequences. For example, pre-diabetics are at least one and a half times more at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Symptoms of Pre-Diabetes

Now that you have been frightened to death, what are the signs and symptoms of pre-diabetes? The problem with the condition is that the symptoms can be very subtle and mimic dozens of other benign conditions.

Symptoms can include the following:\r

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1. Increased Thirst

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2. Frequent Need to Urinate

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3. Blurry Vision

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4. Inexplicable Fatigue

Certain groups are also pre-disposed to developing pre-diabetes:\r

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1. A Genetic History of Diabetes

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2. Certain Ethnic Groups (Asian Americans, African Americans, Pacific Islanders and Latinos)

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3. Over 45 years old and overweight or obese

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4. Under 45 years old and overweight (along with additional health issues, such as low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, delivering a 9 pound or greater baby, previously had gestational diabetes

The Tests

If you have some of the above warning signs or just want some peace of mind, there are two tests used to diagnose pre-diabetes. Both tests are appropriate for diagnosis and need to be scheduled with your doctor.

OGTT - Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. The OGTT takes two measurements. The first checks the blood glucose level at the beginning of the test. A glucose rich drink is then consumed and a second blood glucose measurement is taken two hours later. A normal level is considered 140 mg/dL or below. A level between 140 and 199mg/dL is pre-diabetes. Higher than 199mg/dL is considered a diabetes diagnosis.

FPG - Fasting Plasma Glucose. This test checks your blood glucose level after a fast, usually in the morning. A normal level is considered below 100 mg/dL. Pre-diabetes is defined as a level between 100 and 125 mg/dL. Diabetes is defined as a level above 126 mg/dL.

What happens if you test positive for Pre-diabetes?

The treatment for pre-diabetes is usually very straight forward and revolves around three key components: proper weight, diet and exercise. Following these three guidelines, a pre-diabetic can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 57 percent! In fact, another study looking at the effect of the Mediterranean diet and modest exercise on the condition, found that the risk of developing pre-diabetes could be lowered by 83 percent. Clearly, pre-diabetes is not a one way ticket to diabetes, there is hope of reversing the condition. The important take away is to be properly diagnosed and diligent about your diet, exercise and weight.

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