During pre-diabetes, a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal, yet they are not high enough to be categorized as type 2 diabetes.
| Diagnosis | Type of Test | Results (repeat test on 2 different days) |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting (haven’t eaten for at least 8 hours) | Above 100 mg/dL but lower than 126 mg/dL | |
| Prediabetes | Non-Fasting | Above 140 mg/dL but lower than 200 mg/dL |
| A1c | Above 5.7% but lower than 6.4% |
Pre-diabetic symptoms serve as an early warning. Preventive measures such as weight loss and regular exercise need to be implemented in order to prevent diabetes and its associated complications.
Abnormal increase in blood glucose levels
Both pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes are similar in that both are known for an abnormal build-up of glucose in the bloodstream. However, fasting blood glucose value of more than 126 mg/dL on two separate tests and any value of 200 mg/dL or more on oral glucose tolerance test suggest diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is known for its "insulin resistance." Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas, and blood glucose is the source of energy for body cells. The role of insulin in the body is to help in the uptake of glucose by body cells. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the insulin produced in the body is not utilized efficiently. Hence the uptake of glucose by the body cells is hampered leading to increased levels of glucose in the blood.
If the blood glucose levels are left unchecked and untreated, there is a high likelihood for this disease to eventually cause symptoms like unexplained fatigue, frequent urination, blurred vision, slow healing of wounds, increase in thirst and hunger and therefore would be harmful to your health.
Treatment
Every person has the power to prevent or significantly delay pre-diabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes. By following a disciplined lifestyle involving regular exercise for 30 minutes five times per week, by eating a well balanced diet, more vegetables, whole grains and fruits, small servings of low-calorie, low-fat snacks with higher fiber and by choosing to strive for a healthier weight and maintaining that weight.
For a person suffering from type 2 diabetes, a treatment plan would consist of lifelong blood sugar monitoring in combination with healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and taking diabetes medication on a timely basis.