Consider prediabetes a warning sign – a big, bright, flashing, neon-red warning sign that diabetes is headed straight for you – unless something changes soon.
If you’ve been told you have prediabetes, know that there are steps you can take to change the course of your life, beginning now.
Is Prediabetes Diabetes?
Yes and no. Prediabetes is serious, but it’s not yet proper diabetes. Being prediabetic means that your blood sugar levels are high enough to be concerning, but not quite high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes – at least not yet. If you have prediabetes, long-term cellular damage throughout your body may have already started.
Prediabetes is very common. An estimated 1 in 3 adults have prediabetes, and most aren’t even aware they have it. However, the condition is entirely reversible.
How Is Prediabetes Diagnosed?
Any type of diabetes can be determined using blood tests. The most common and most accurate of these tests is the A1C – it provides your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. Even after receiving a diagnosis of prediabetes or diabetes, you can expect to undergo regular A1C blood tests to help you manage the condition.
Here’s what the A1C blood test results mean:
- Normal blood sugar levels = 5.7% or lower
- Prediabetes = 5.7% to 6.4%
- Diabetes = 6.5% or higher
Am I at Risk of Prediabetes?
Because prediabetes is basically a steppingstone to diabetes, the risk factors are the same for both. All of the below will increase your risk of developing prediabetes:
- Carrying extra weight
- A large waist size – 40”+ for men, 35”+ for women
- Poor diet – a diet high in red meat, processed foods, and sugary foods/drinks
- A sedentary lifestyle
- A family history of diabetes
- Being age 35 or older
- Smoking
- A presence of other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, sleep apnea, or polycystic ovary syndrome
What Do I Do If I Think I Have Prediabetes?
The first thing to do is to visit your provider, such as nurse practitioner Adriel Perez and his team at the Diabetes & Weight Loss Center in Oviedo, Florida. They have the training and experience needed to diagnose and help you manage prediabetes and diabetes. If you are prediabetic, they will work with you and develop a plan to help you get off the path to diabetes.
Second, there are numerous lifestyle changes you can make that will improve your odds of not becoming prediabetic or diabetic. These include all the usual suspects, including eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity. However, that’s not always easy to do, is it? At the Diabetes & Weight Loss Center, we understand this and regularly help our patients find ways to make changes that are most effective for them. We will explore all your treatment options with you and help you find what works best for you.
Prediabetes Care and Treatment Near Orlando, FL
Prediabetes and diabetes are both serious health conditions. When not properly controlled, they can lead to numerous complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, and limb amputations.
If you believe you or a loved one is at risk of developing prediabetes – or already have it and want to avoid becoming diabetic – contact the Diabetes & Weight Loss Center in Oviedo, Florida, by calling (407) 890-1876 or simplyrequestyour appointment now.
