Still have doubts? See the most
frequently asked questions (FAQs)
answered below.
Genes are likely to have a large role in the development of prediabetes1, and epigenetics are a strong risk factor; however, your lifestyle is also proven to have a huge impact.2
For this reason, if you can make lifestyle changes now, you could prevent diabetes in the future!
Yes it’s true. But the good news is that you can do something to prevent or delay diabetes. If identified early, elevated blood glucose in people with prediabetes can be reversed. However, if prediabetes is not identified and controlled, it is very likely to progress to type 2 diabetes.3
The main difference between prediabetes and diabetes lies in the blood glucose level of the two conditions. The easiest test is to measure fasting blood glucose. This is a test that measures the blood glucose level when a person has not eaten or drunk for at least 8 hours. According to ADA guidelines4, a fasting blood glucose level between 100-125 mg/dL indicates that you are pre-diabetic. A fasting blood glucose level of more than 125 mg/dL indicates type 2 diabetes. It is important to note that if prediabetes is not identified and persists, it may eventually progress to type 2 diabetes.4
Note that guidelines may vary in different countries.
Generally, there are no visible signs or symptoms associated with prediabetes. However, some people with prediabetes may have some of the symptoms of diabetes already.4 If you have any of these symptoms, ensure you visit your doctor.
Symptoms include5:
There are several groups of people who are generally more at risk of developing prediabetes than others.
If you fall into one of the risk categories outlined below, it may be a good idea to have regular health checks.2
If you think you may be prediabetic, you must visit your doctor. Your doctor will likely advise lifestyle interventions such as an increasing in your physical activity, eating a balanced diet and/or losing some weight. These lifestyle changes will also help you to avoid other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke, diseases that are also linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. If lifestyle changes alone are unable to control your blood sugar level, your doctor can also discuss medications that might be able to help.3
To find out whether you have prediabetes, your doctor will check your medical history, perform a physical exam, and test your blood glucose levels. Blood tests used to identify prediabetes include a fasting plasma glucose test (FPG), a haemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c), and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). 6,7 In most cases, only one or two of the tests will be done.
To learn more about prediabetes and whether you may be at risk, please contact your doctor.
People with diabetes are encouraged to exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. Keeping active can help reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes, such as heart disease. However, there may be some considerations to take into account before taking up a new exercise regime.8
Talk to your healthcare team for more information.
Contrary to what you might think, you can eat just about anything you want. It is about knowing proper portion sizes and how much you are putting on your plate.9 A dietitian can help you learn to count carbohydrates and with meal planning that is specific for you.
It is very important to keep your blood sugar level under control. When your blood sugar level is high, it can cause damage in your veins and arteries. This damage could lead to complications later such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, neuropathies, vision problems, etc.9
Fruits, starchy vegetables, milk, yogurt, rice, cereals, bread and other grains all have carbs and give you important nutrients. Many snack foods, such as pretzels, chips and popcorn, have carbs. Sweets, including regular soda, cakes, candy and cookies, also contain carbohydrates. Be sure to check the nutrition label on each food item to determine carbohydrate content.9
Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet. With diabetes, watching portion sizes and getting most of your carbs from fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low fat milk and yogurt is key. Besides counting carbs, people with diabetes can also benefit from eating lower fat, high fiber foods and just enough calories to maintain a healthy weight.9
Sugar free foods can be part of a healthy meal plan in small amounts. Keep in mind though that some of these foods still have carbs (in the form of other sweeteners such as sorbitol, isomalt, and mannitol) and may affect your blood glucose levels. Many sugar free foods have calories and carbohydrates and lots of fat. Make sure you read the nutrition labels.9
As with any vaccine you may have received in the past, the coronavirus vaccine may cause your blood glucose levels to rise for a couple of days.10 You should not be alarmed by this and can refer to the sick day rules to manage these. Be prepared and ensure that there are people around you who know how to support you if this happens. After the vaccination, drink plenty of water and keep a close eye on your blood glucose levels and you should be good to go.
1. ADA. Diagnosis. Available at: https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/a1c/diagnosis. Accessed June 2022.
2. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention. Diabetes Symptoms. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html. Accessed June 2022.
3. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention. Prediabetes – Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/prediabetes.html. Accessed June 2022.
4. Mijajlovic MD, et al. Role of prediabetes in stroke. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017; 13: 259-267.
5. Arch G. Mainous III P, Rebecca J. Tanner, MA, and Richard Baker, MD. Prediabetes Diagnosis and Treatment in Primary Care. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 2015; 29: 283-285.
6. Tabak AG, et al. Prediabetes: a high-risk state for diabetes development. Lancet. 2012; 379(9833): 2279-2290.
7. Chatterjee R, et al. Screening adults for pre-diabetes and diabetes may be cost-saving. Diabetes Care. 2010; 33(7): 1484-1490.
8. Diabetes UK. Diabetes myths and frequently asked questions. Available at: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/myths-and-faqs. Accessed June 2022.
9. Maury Regional Health. Available at: https://www.mauryregional.com/our-services/diabetes/diabetes-frequently-asked-questions. Accessed June 2022.
10. International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes & COVID-19 Vaccination and treatments. Available at: https://www.idf.org/our-network/regions-members/europe/europe-news/370:diabetes-coronavirus-vaccination.html. Accessed June 2022.
