Nation News,Chandigarh. On World Diabetes Day, Dr. Aneja explained that if you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, we know it can feel overwhelming—like your life has changed and you’ll never be “normal” again. But know that’s not the case. For some people with prediabetes, early treatment along with moderate lifestyle changes can actually bring blood sugar levels back into the normal range, effectively preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes.
**What is prediabetes:
“Pre-diabetes is defined as having higher than normal blood glucose (sugar) levels, but not yet reaching the level that defines diabetes. In people with pre-diabetes, blood sugar levels may increase gradually over time. Your healthcare provider may refer to pre-diabetes as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose, or IFG.”
**Symptoms of prediabetes:
According to Dr. Aneja, most people with prediabetes don’t realize they have the disease because it usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. She explains, “Some people with prediabetes may already have nerve damage, which can cause tingling or numbness in the feet and hands.”
**Risk factors for prediabetes:
Being over 45 years old (although diabetes and prediabetes can develop in children)
a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
overweight or obesity,
not being physically active,
Having African, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, or Native American heritage
A history of gestational diabetes, diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Giving birth to a very large baby (9 pounds or more).
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS),
**Prediabetes diagnosis:
A1C test: This test checks a component of your blood called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that binds to sugar, especially when sugar levels are high. High levels of blood cells stuck to hemoglobin (“hemoglobin A1c”) may indicate prediabetes or diabetes.
Normal: Less than 5.7%
Prediabetes: 5.7%–6.4%
Diabetes: 6.5% or more.
**Fasting plasma glucose test:
Typically, you do this test first thing in the morning because it measures blood sugar after you haven’t eaten or drunk anything (except water) for eight hours.
Normal: Less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl)
Prediabetes: 100 mg/dL–125 mg/dL
Diabetes: 126 mg/dL or more.
Oral glucose tolerance test:
This test measures how your body responds two hours after you’ve been given a particular sugary drink.
Normal: Less than 140 mg/dl
Prediabetes: 140 mg/dL–199 mg/dL
Diabetes: 200 mg/dL or more.
Random (accidental) plasma glucose test:
This blood test can be done at any time if you are showing symptoms of diabetes, and a blood sugar value of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.
**Prediabetes Treatment:
Healthy lifestyle: “A healthy lifestyle can slow, stop, and even reverse the progression of prediabetes,” she explains. “This is important to understand because diabetes is a serious disease and the health problems and complications associated with it can affect your quality of life and even jeopardize your health.”
Self-care: Successfully managing prediabetes is possible only if
-You do the following:
Eat a healthy diet,
Exercise regularly,
Lose a little weight. Losing even a relatively small amount of weight—5% to 10% of your body weight—can help lower your blood sugar.
quit smoking,
Manage stress
