Prediabetes, also commonly referred to as borderline diabetes, is a metabolic condition and growing global problem that is closely tied to obesity.
If undiagnosed or untreated, prediabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes; which whilst treatable is currently not fully reversible.
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes is characterised by the presence of blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classed as diabetes.
For this reason, prediabetes is often described as the “gray area” between normal blood sugar and diabetic levels. In the UK, around 7 million people are estimated to have prediabetes and thus have a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. [17]
Prediabetes may be referred to as impaired fasting glucose (IFT), if you have higher than normal sugar levels after a period of fasting, or as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), if you have higher than normal sugar levels following eating.
The increasing number of new cases of prediabetes presents a global concern as it carries large scale implications towards the future burden on healthcare. Between 2003 and 2011, the prevalence of prediabetes in England alone more than tripled, with 35.3% of the adult population, or 1 in every 3 people having prediabetes. [106]
Learn more about prediabetes
Prediabetes is a critical stage in the development of diabetes, for it is at this point that lifestyle choices can be made to turn it around. Early, decisive action can slow down or even halt the development of type 2 diabetes
What are the symptoms of prediabetes?
Many people have prediabetes but are completely unaware of it. This is because the condition often develops gradually without any warning signs or symptoms. In many cases, the sufferer only learns of their borderline diabetic state once the symptoms of type 2 diabetes start to appear. Therefore, being aware of the risk factors is essential.
What are the risk factors for prediabetes?
You should be tested for prediabetes if you:
While pre-diabetes may affect anyone, of any age, gender or racial type, some groups are genetically more prone. These include:
- Afro-Caribbean
- South Asian
- Native American
Testing for prediabetes
Either a fasting plasma glucose test or an HbA1c test may be used to diagnose type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
The following results indicate the presence of prediabetes:
- Fasting plasma glucose: 5.5 mmol/L to 6.9 mmol/L
- HbA1c: 42 to 47 mmol/mol (6.0 to 6.4%) [361]
If your results are above the upper limits for prediabetes, your GP may either diagnose you with type 2 diabetes or take another test in the near future to confirm whether you have diabetes. If you have symptoms of diabetes but have an HbA1c of below 42 mmol/mol (6.0%), you may be given an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
If you are diagnosed with prediabetes, your doctor should clearly set out the steps you need to take to lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Transcript
Pre-diabetes is a very early stage of type 2 diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, once you have it, you’re faced with having to control your blood sugar levels for life.
With pre-diabetes, you have the chance to pull things back and prevent yourself from having to actively control your blood sugar levels. If you have pre-diabetes, you are said to have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. You may also be said to have ‘insulin resistance’; that is your body is less able to cope with carbohydrates than it will have once been.
The risk factors of pre-diabetes are similar to those for type 2 diabetes, which are: having a high body mass index (BMI); having a close family member such as a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes; people of an Asia, Middle Eastern or African-Caribbean descent; having high blood pressure or cholesterol.
As pre-diabetes is an early form of type 2 diabetes, the symptoms will be less pronounced and more difficult to recognise. The symptoms are most likely to be recognised after a meal – particularly a meal that has quite a high amount of carbohydrate.
Such symptoms may include feeling tired or lethargic even feeling hunger after a meal shortly after a meal. If you notice you frequently have these after meal symptoms and have one or more of the risk factors, it’s worth going to your doctor for a diagnosis. If you can catch pre-diabetes before it becomes type 2 diabetes, you have a chance of stopping its development.
Pre-diabetes may be diagnosed by one of the following tests. Fasting plasma glucose test or oral glucose tolerance test.
A fasting plasma glucose test is taken when you have fasted for a number of hours. If your blood sugar is above 6 mmol/l you may be categorised as having impaired fasting glucose.
An oral glucose tolerance test is where you have a very sugary drink and then your blood glucose levels are measured over the following few hours to see how well your body responds to the intake of glucose.
Pre-diabetes will generally not involve treatment unless it develops into type 2 diabetes. Someone diagnosed with pre-diabetes will instead need to make lifestyle changes such as cutting down on smoking and drinking; taking more physical activity and eating a healthy, balanced diet and try to cut down on the amount of processed food you may be eating.
A diagnosis of pre-diabetes means you are more susceptible to type 2 diabetes, so you will likely need regularly blood tests to check the condition is not developing.
A diagnosis of pre-diabetes is an early warning. You will likely need to be more disciplined with your lifestyle than before and, if you are, you could either significantly delay or prevent yourself from getting diabetes later on in life.
Download your FREE Prediabetes Cookbook for low-carb recipe ideas.
Can I stop prediabetes developing into type 2 diabetes?
The good news is that cases of prediabetes that are identified early on can be reversed, preventing them from progressing into full-blown type 2 diabetes. Each year in the UK, 5% to 10% of people diagnosed with prediabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes.
The two principle factors for consideration are:
By making these changes, blood sugar levels can be returned to normal.
In fact, the recently completed Diabetes Prevention Program study conclusively showed that people with borderline diabetes can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making dietary changes and increasing their level of physical activity.
For a comprehensive and individual plan, speak to your doctor.
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