If you've been diagnosed with prediabetes, then this is the stage to get into action! There is no way that you could get in on the action without awareness of the problem.
The first step begins with awareness.
What is Borderline diabetes?
Borderline diabetes or prediabetes is when blood sugars are out of normal range, but not in the range for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
The clinical name for this is called fasting glucose.
Borderline diabetes or prediabetes is important because it serves as a warning sign. This is the time to make major changes in lifestyle. Or increases the risk of becoming a type 2 diabetic.
How is prediabetes diagnosed?
The quickest way to diagnose prediabetes is a fasting blood sugar. I usually recommend an overnight fast for at least 8 hours and if possible up to 12 hours.
Blood glucose levels normal for diabetes are among 70-99 mg/dL. Substantially less than 100 mg/dL.
When your blood glucose is between 100-125 mg/dL, this indicates prediabetes or borderline diabetes.
If the level is above 126 mg/dl that indicates diabetes type 2.
Another test that can be used to diagnose prediabetes is called the glucose tolerance test (OGTT) oral.
This is a more detailed tests. Firstly, a fasting blood glucose level. Once a fast 8-12 hours is required.
Then you are given a very sweet liquid to drink. This is equivalent to 75 G glucose or the amount of sugar in a can of Coca Cola for example.
Two hours after taking this, I did another blood test. If this is between 140 and 199 mg/dL.
When your blood sugar is over 200 mg/dL, then this indicates type 2 diabetes.
Borderline diabetes have symptoms?
There are symptoms associated with borderline diabetes. So don't expect to have the common signs of diabetes.
What are the risks associated with prediabetes?
The main risk is the development of type 2 diabetes. However people with prediabetes are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke and hypertension.
Get more information on how diabetes and hypertension are linked.
Remember that the same risks that put you at risk for type 2 diabetes also can put you at risk of prediabetes.
What can you do to prevent prediabetes from becoming diabetes type 2?
As noted earlier in this article, diagnosed with prediabetes should serve as a warning sign to make changes in your lifestyle.
In other words does not mean that inevitably will become a type 2 diabetic.
Patients diagnosed with prediabetes should be closely monitored. This is one of the times that, with a commitment to a healthy life, progression to diabetes can be reversed.
The hallmark of success reversing prediabetes is diet and exercise. If you are overweight or obese, commit to losing weight.
Just losing 10% of your current body weight could reverse these effects.
It is important to work with your doctor during this critical phase. By monitoring your blood tests, you and your doctor are better aware of the corrective action to be taken.
Sometimes the doctor may choose to put on a drug called metformin. When this happens, many times patients may get confused because they don't understand enough because I'm on a medication for diabetes even if you don't have diabetes. But research shows that the metformin helps reduce the chances of developing full-blown diabetes.
So next time you hear someone say that they have been diagnosed with borderline diabetes or prediabetes, do a favor to them and educate them about it.
Let them know that this is the time to begin to make changes in their lifestyle.
The first step begins with awareness.
What is Borderline diabetes?
Borderline diabetes or prediabetes is when blood sugars are out of normal range, but not in the range for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
The clinical name for this is called fasting glucose.
Borderline diabetes or prediabetes is important because it serves as a warning sign. This is the time to make major changes in lifestyle. Or increases the risk of becoming a type 2 diabetic.
How is prediabetes diagnosed?
The quickest way to diagnose prediabetes is a fasting blood sugar. I usually recommend an overnight fast for at least 8 hours and if possible up to 12 hours.
Blood glucose levels normal for diabetes are among 70-99 mg/dL. Substantially less than 100 mg/dL.
When your blood glucose is between 100-125 mg/dL, this indicates prediabetes or borderline diabetes.
If the level is above 126 mg/dl that indicates diabetes type 2.
Another test that can be used to diagnose prediabetes is called the glucose tolerance test (OGTT) oral.
This is a more detailed tests. Firstly, a fasting blood glucose level. Once a fast 8-12 hours is required.
Then you are given a very sweet liquid to drink. This is equivalent to 75 G glucose or the amount of sugar in a can of Coca Cola for example.
Two hours after taking this, I did another blood test. If this is between 140 and 199 mg/dL.
When your blood sugar is over 200 mg/dL, then this indicates type 2 diabetes.
Borderline diabetes have symptoms?
There are symptoms associated with borderline diabetes. So don't expect to have the common signs of diabetes.
What are the risks associated with prediabetes?
The main risk is the development of type 2 diabetes. However people with prediabetes are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke and hypertension.
Get more information on how diabetes and hypertension are linked.
Remember that the same risks that put you at risk for type 2 diabetes also can put you at risk of prediabetes.
What can you do to prevent prediabetes from becoming diabetes type 2?
As noted earlier in this article, diagnosed with prediabetes should serve as a warning sign to make changes in your lifestyle.
In other words does not mean that inevitably will become a type 2 diabetic.
Patients diagnosed with prediabetes should be closely monitored. This is one of the times that, with a commitment to a healthy life, progression to diabetes can be reversed.
The hallmark of success reversing prediabetes is diet and exercise. If you are overweight or obese, commit to losing weight.
Just losing 10% of your current body weight could reverse these effects.
It is important to work with your doctor during this critical phase. By monitoring your blood tests, you and your doctor are better aware of the corrective action to be taken.
Sometimes the doctor may choose to put on a drug called metformin. When this happens, many times patients may get confused because they don't understand enough because I'm on a medication for diabetes even if you don't have diabetes. But research shows that the metformin helps reduce the chances of developing full-blown diabetes.
So next time you hear someone say that they have been diagnosed with borderline diabetes or prediabetes, do a favor to them and educate them about it.
Let them know that this is the time to begin to make changes in their lifestyle.
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