About diabetes
What Is Prediabetes?
🔬 Research Corner
Prediabetes in Focus
learn more
What Is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is your body’s quiet warning: your blood sugar levels are higher-than-normal, but not yet in the range of Type 2 diabetes. It’s not a diagnosis to fear—it’s an invitation to act. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults have prediabetes—and more than 8 out of 10 don’t even know it.
Why It Matters
Left unchecked, prediabetes often progresses into Type 2 diabetes, which brings risks like heart disease, kidney damage, and vision loss.
But the good news: prediabetes puts you in the driver’s seat—you can often reverse it by making the right lifestyle changes now.
What Causes Prediabetes?
Insulin resistance: Your cells don’t respond properly to insulin, so sugar builds up in your blood.
Declining insulin production: Over time, your pancreas may struggle to keep up.
Lifestyle + genetics: Extra weight (especially around the belly), inactivity, poor diet, family history—these all raise risk.
Risk Factors to Watch
Waist size: > 40 in (men), > 35 in (women)
Sedentary habits or low movement
High-risk family history of diabetes
Ethnicity: Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian populations show higher risk.
Age: Risk rises after age 35
Sleep issues, smoking, poor diet
How to Detect it Early
Because prediabetes often has no symptoms, screening matters. Ask your doctor about:
Fasting blood sugar test (100-125 mg/dL)
HbA1c test (5.7-6.4 %)
Glucose tolerance test
💡 Tip: If you have risk factors—make testing part of your health plan now.
Turning It Around — Lifestyle Strategies That Work
Move Your Body
Choose whole-foods: veggies, legumes, lean protein, healthy fats. Cut back on refined carbs and sugary drinks.
Eat Smart
Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week (brisk walking, cycling) + resistance training twice weekly
Mind Your Weight (~5–7 % loss helps)
Even modest weight loss can dramatically reduce progression to Type 2 diabetes.
Sleep & Stress Show Up
Poor sleep and chronic stress worsen blood sugar control—so prioritize rest and relaxation.
Call to Action
👉 Felt that “wake-up call”? Let’s answer it.
👉 [Discover more: What Is Type 2 Diabetes? →] (Internal link)
👉 Start today: Check your risk. Move your body. Eat smart. Turn the warning into your advantage.
FAQs
Yes—especially if you act early. With the right diet, movement, and habits, your blood sugar can return to normal.
No—while risk is high, progression is not inevitable. Early action changes the game.
Usually not. Many people have no signs. That’s why screening matters.
Prediabetes = high but not diabetes-level blood sugar. Diabetes = consistently high sugar that needs regular management.
If you have risk factors, ask your doctor about yearly screening. If results are normal but risks persist, repeat every 1–3 years.