Pre-diabetes is a newly-coined medical term, introduced in 2002 by the American Diabetes Association, that refers to blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes mellitus.
As a rule, people with pre-diabetes have no symptoms. Their condition is diagnosed when they undergo either or both of two equally reliable laboratory examinations that utilize blood as sample: Fasting blood sugar (the one you had) and glucose tolerance test.
The normal blood sugar or glucose level after an overnight fast (fasting blood sugar or FBS) is below 100 mg per deciliter (mg/dl). If a person’s FBS is 126 mg/dl or higher, then the person has diabetes. If he/she has an FBS that’s between 100-125 mg/dl (I assume yours is), then he/she has pre-diabetes.
Similarly, the normal blood sugar or glucose level two hours after drinking a sugar-rich beverage (i.e., one with 75 grams of glucose) is below 140 mg/dl. If a person’s two-hour blood glucose level is 200 mg/dl or over, then the person has diabetes. If he/she has a two-hour blood glucose level that is between 140-199 mg/dl, then he/she has pre-diabetes.
Pre-diabetes is a clinically important condition primarily because of its association with type 2 diabetes — the form of diabetes that accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all cases of diabetes mellitus. In people who develop type 2 diabetes, the illness is almost always preceded by pre-diabetes. Conversely, many people with pre-diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. So, your physician is correct, if you do not do anything about your pre-diabetes, there is a good chance you will ultimately develop diabetes.
Aside from serving as a herald for diabetes, pre-diabetes carries some other health risks. Many studies indicate that people with pre-diabetes are at a higher risk of developing diseases of the heart and the blood vessels. Furthermore, many other studies show that the damage that diabetes mellitus causes to the various vital organs of the body — heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, etc. — actually starts during pre-diabetes.
Pre-diabetes is therefore a serious condition that has to be treated. Treating this condition can prevent, or at least delay, the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. A recently completed study among people who have pre-diabetes and are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes revealed that treating pre-diabetes decreases one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes by about 60 percent. In fact, in some people, treatment actually returns elevated blood sugar levels to the normal range.
What’s the treatment for pre-diabetes? Mainly, modest weight loss (for those who are overweight) and regular moderate exercise. Additionally, a heart-healthy diet, cessation of smoking, and in certain instances, intake of oral anti-diabetic drugs (i.e., drugs that sensitize the person to the action of insulin.)
Research studies have unequivocally shown that among overweight pre-diabetics, weight loss of seven-10 percent through increased physical activity and diet can prevent or delay the progression of pre-diabetes to type 2 diabetes. Overweight people with the condition need not reduce to their ideal body weight. They only need to lose seven-10 percent of their total body weight.
Moderate exercise, on the other hand, can come in the form of brisk walking, 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or an aerobically equivalent activity.
Managing pre-diabetes offers major health benefits and the earlier the condition is diagnosed and treated the more effective the treatment becomes. Experts thus advise those who belong to the following categories to undergo screening by either undergoing glucose tolerance test or having their fasting blood sugar level determined: 1) people who are 45 years old or older especially if they are overweight; 2) younger individuals who are obese and who have one of the following risk factors for diabetes: A family history of diabetes, dyslipidemia, gestational diabetes, and hypertension. People whose initial pre-diabetes screening yielded normal values need to undergo re-screening only once every three years.
