Prediabetes: Borderline diabetes

Although a problematic condition, patients should consider prediabetes a chance to prevent diabetes. Prediabetes is a condition where you stand on the edge of having higher blood sugar levels but not as high as those suffering from diabetes.

This health condition is difficult to define. It is a red flag that your blood sugar danger levels chart displays to warn you that you are at a high risk of getting diabetes.

The leading cause of prediabetes is the lesser production of insulin or the inability of insulin to consume sugar. This defect raises blood sugar levels. The following risk factors may put you in the prediabetes range of blood sugar:

• Age above 45
• Being overweight
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Have a strong family history of diabetes
• Had diabetes during pregnancy

According to the CDC, you may have prediabetes but may not suffer from any symptoms. However, if you have the following symptoms, get tested:

• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Frequent urination
• Blurred vision
• Slow-healing sores
• Numbness in toes and fingers

Prediabetes diagnosis

You should get tested if you suffer from any of the above symptoms. In the United States, 1 in 3 adults is prediabetic. Here is everything you wanted to know about the diagnosis of prediabetes.

Glycated haemoglobin (A1C) test

The A1c test is a blood test that is an indicator of your blood sugar for the past two to three months. Patients need not fast for the test or do not have to drink anything for the tests. The results are in percentages.

Your haemoglobin A1c results would be higher if your recent glucose levels were high. The prediabetic range of blood sugar is 5.7 to 6.4 %.

Result	A1C
Normal	Less than 5.7%
Prediabetic	5.7 to 6.4%
Diabetic	6.5 % or higher

Fasting blood sugar test

The patient needs to fast for at least 8 hours for this test before the blood sample is withdrawn and may drink only water. Typically, patients undergo the test in the morning before breakfast.

100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl indicates prediabetic range fasting. The blood sugar danger level charts are as below:

Result	Fasting Plasma Glucose
Normal	less than 100 mg/dl
Prediabetic	100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl
Diabetic	126 mg/dl or higher

Oral glucose tolerance test

This test indicates the prediabetes range of sugar after eating. The patient will have to give blood samples before and two hours after drinking a special sweet liquid. The test represents how your body processes sugar.

The following chart shows the prediabetic blood sugar range:

Result	Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Normal	less than 140 mg/dl
Prediabetic	140 mg/dl to 199 mg/dl
Diabetic	200 mg/dl or higher

How to Manage Prediabetes?

Although common, prediabetes is reversible. Here are a few tips for prediabetic patients to manage and reverse their condition.

• Modify your lifestyle:
  • Make healthy food choices that contain less or no sugar and less trans-fat. Avoid refined flour and food items made from them like bread, pizza, pasta, pastries, and biscuits.
  • Go for whole grains and vegetables as they are rich in fibre.  They also provide essential minerals and vitamins that help the normal functioning of the pancreas.
  • Include healthy fats like fish and avocado in your prediabetic diet.
  • Choose fresh fruits over fruit juice. Do not consume carbonated beverages as they contain high levels of sugar.
  • Instead of having three large meals, eating five-six smaller meals throughout the day may help.
  • Exercise daily, and keep moving to avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
  • Lose excess weight and maintain a healthy weight.
  • Quit smoking and drinking habits.

• Medication:
  • For some people reversing prediabetes with lifestyle changes may not be enough. In such cases, physicians may prescribe some antidiabetic medicines and nutraceutical supplements to patients suffering from prediabetes.

• Manage stress:
  • Practice yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises to manage stress.
  • Exercise relieves symptoms and stress and gives a feeling of well-being.

• Regular blood sugar tests:
  • Patients should get tested regularly to monitor their blood sugar levels

Prediabetes Testing in Children

Prediabetes is no longer an adult condition. In recent times, many children and young adults have been prediabetic. Prediabetic children should get tested twice a year for diabetes. Here are the tests for children:

• Glycated hemoglobin A1C test
• Fasting blood sugar test
• Oral glucose tolerance Test
• Random sugar test

The prediabetic glucose level is similar in children and adults.

How to Manage Prediabetes in Children

Parents find it challenging when children are diagnosed with prediabetes. Here are a few tips for managing the condition:

• Consult a paediatric nutritionist for dietary recommendations.
• Encourage 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
• Restrict screen time to less than two hours/day.
• Ensure children get enough sleep.
• Help them cut down on sweetened beverages and juices.
• Make sure they practice eating in small portions.
• Include five servings of fruits and veggies per day.

Conclusion:

Prediabetes can affect adults and children. Prediabetes state doesn’t mean that you will get type 2 diabetes in the future. Prediabetic blood sugar range is a warning to patients to take necessary steps.

Patients with prediabetes can manage the condition and reverse it to avoid its progression to diabetes. Early diagnosis, changes in lifestyle, regular checking of blood sugar levels, and regular medication help manage the condition.

By keeping the blood sugar level in the healthy range, you will avoid type 2 diabetes and associated health complications like heart diseases, stroke, and nerve problems.

FAQs

1. Can diabetes go away?

Patients can control their diabetes and avoid its complications. Prediabetes may go away, but it is difficult to cure diabetes completely.

Regular exercise, healthy eating, and maintaining a healthy weight are the most effective ways to reverse prediabetes or return to normal blood glucose levels.

2. How can I reverse my prediabetes fast?

Lifestyle changes, exercises, and quitting bad habits combined with medication will help you reverse prediabetes. It may take some time.

3. What foods to avoid to control prediabetes?

Avoid sugar, sweetened beverages, juices, fried and fatty food, refined flour, and bakery products. Avoid drinking alcohol.

4. What causes prediabetes?

The pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin. When this hormone doesn’t work normally, the glucose from your blood cannot enter into cells. This hormonal malfunction leads to elevated glucose levels in the blood.