Learn How to Prevent Diabetes
What Is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes means blood sugar levels are normal, but in the “high normal” range.
If you have prediabetes you will not automatically develop type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes can be reversed. However, some people with prediabetes do go on to develop type 2 diabetes.
How Do I know If I Have Prediabetes?
The only way to know for sure if you have prediabetes is to take a blood test.
If you score 5 or higher on the prediabetes risk test, it’s important to make an appointment with a health care practitioner to get a blood test.
What Blood Tests Are Used to Test for Prediabetes?
There are several different blood tests a health care practitioner can order to determine if you have diabetes. The 3 most common tests are described below.
Fasting Blood Glucose Test
Measures the amount of sugar in your blood after fasting overnight
Normal: less than 100 mg/dL
Prediabetes: 100- 125 mg/dL
Diabetes: 126 mg/dL or higher
HbA1c
Measures the average level of sugar in your blood over the previous 2-3 months
Normal: less than 5.7%
Prediabetes: 5.7 - 6.4%
Diabetes: 6.5% or higher
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Measures the amount of sugar in your blood 2 hours after drinking a sugary beverage
Normal: less than 140 mg/dL
Prediabetes: 140-199 mg/dL
Diabetes: 200 mg/dL or higher
Prediabetes is Reversible and Diabetes May Be Prevented
If you know you have prediabetes, certain lifestyle changes may prevent prediabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes. Here’s what you need to do: maintain a healthy weight, eat well, and get moving!
One clinical trial found that overweight participants with prediabetes who made modest changes to their diet and exercised more lost an average of 7% body weight and reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes by 58% (NEJM. 2002 Feb 7;346(6).)
What are the Symptoms of Prediabetes?
People with prediabetes usually have no symptoms...that’s why nearly 90% of those with prediabetes don’t know they have it.
Sometimes people with prediabetes have the same symptoms as people with diabetes: increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue and blurred vision.
How is Prediabetes Different from Diabetes?
People with type 2 diabetes have blood sugar levels that are too high because their bodies don’t respond well to insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
Some people can manage their type 2 diabetes with healthy eating and exercise but some need to inject insulin or take other medications to help control blood sugar and prevent complications.
Complications of diabetes include blindness, kidney disease, heart disease and, sometimes, the need for amputations.
Programs are Available to Help Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) can help you learn about and adopt healthy lifestyle changes. The program is offered at YMCAs, community centers, churches and hospitals across the country. To find one near you, enter your zip code into the CDC’s program finder tool.
Medicare now reimburses qualifying health care practitioners who provide the DPP program to their patients. To find a Medicare-covered DPP class near you, enter your zip code here.
What You Can Do Today to Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes
- Incorporate exercise into your daily routine
- Eat healthy and nutritious meals
- Take the prediabetes risk test (in English or Spanish)
- Talk with your health care provider
- Find a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) near you!
Facts about Prediabetes
- 34% of Americans have prediabetes - that's 84 million people!
- The risk of prediabetes increases with age: nearly half of adults 65 and older have prediabetes.
- Prediabetes is more common in men than in women.
- Women who had gestational diabetes are at higher risk of prediabetes.
- African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians are at higher risk of developing prediabetes.
Additional AARP Resources
- Blog: Medicare Covers a Proven Diabetes Prevention Program, but Access Remains an Issue, May 2019
- Blog: Diabetes Prevention under the Healthy Living Initiative, December 2018
- Report: The Facts about Prediabetes and Older Americans, November 2018
- Blog: New Diabetes Prevention Program Covered Under Medicare Part B, March 2018
- Blog: Diabetes Prevention Program Shows Investing in Prevention Pays, May 2016
- Article: The more you know — beyond how it's 'not quite' diabetes — the better you can protect yourself, August 2019
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