Prediabetes means your blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. It’s an important warning sign — without lifestyle changes, the risk of progressing to full diabetes is significant. The good news: at this stage, the process can often still be reversed.
1. How Prediabetes Is Diagnosed
Most adults are advised to begin diabetes screening around age 35, or earlier if they are overweight and have additional risk factors. Diagnosis typically relies on one of three tests:
1.1. HbA1c Test
This test reflects your average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months and is usually recommended for people over 35, or younger individuals with elevated risk.
- Below 5.7%: normal
- 5.7%–6.4%: prediabetes
- 6.5% or higher (confirmed on two separate tests): diabetes
Certain conditions — pregnancy, kidney disease, liver disease, or severe anemia/hemolysis — can distort HbA1c results. For those already diagnosed with diabetes, keeping HbA1c under 7% substantially lowers the risk of complications.
1.2. Fasting Blood Glucose Test
This requires fasting for at least 8 hours (water is fine). Results are measured in mg/dL or mmol/L:
- Below 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L): normal
- 100–125 mg/dL (5.6–6.9 mmol/L): prediabetes
- 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher, on two separate occasions: diabetes
1.3. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Used less often, mainly for gestational diabetes screening. After an overnight fast, you drink a solution containing 75g of glucose, and blood sugar is checked two hours later:
- Below 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L): normal
- 140–199 mg/dL (7.8–11.0 mmol/L): prediabetes
- 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher: diabetes
Children who are overweight or obese, or who have a family history of type 2 diabetes, low birth weight, or a mother with gestational diabetes, are also candidates for regular screening — particularly if symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, or blurred vision appear.
2. Preventing Progression to Type 2 Diabetes
Not everyone with prediabetes goes on to develop type 2 diabetes. Three key changes can make a real difference:
Adjust your diet: favor non-starchy vegetables, fresh fruit, healthy fats (olive oil, avocado), whole grains, and lean meats; eat on a consistent schedule to avoid sharp blood sugar swings.
Move more: a sedentary lifestyle raises the risk of progression. About 30 minutes of walking, stair-climbing, or jogging, five days a week, offers measurable benefits for weight, blood pressure, and sleep quality.
Manage stress: chronic stress can suppress immune function and raise diabetes risk. Meditation, yoga, reading, or any relaxing hobby can help.
3. Bottom Line
Prediabetes is not a life sentence — it’s a signal to act early. A balanced lifestyle, combining sensible eating, regular activity, and mental wellbeing, remains the most effective way to manage blood sugar and prevent it from progressing to type 2 diabetes.
If you’d like personalized guidance on your blood sugar levels, consult a doctor or endocrinologist.
Source: https://diab.com.vn/tien-tieu-duong-co-nguy-hiem-khong/