What is Pre-diabetes

Prediabetes is a stage before diabetes. In prediabetes, the blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to indicate diabetes. It was earlier called borderline diabetes.

Prediabetes stage may not have symptoms and this is what is disturbing as it puts the population at a higher risk to develop heart diseases.

WHO SHOULD BE TESTED: If you have risk factors as mentioned below, blood glucose screening is recommended by the American Diabetes Association.

1. Overweight – BMI (Body Mass Index) above 25

2. Inactive (poor physical activity)

3. Family history of diabetes

4. History of Gestational Diabetes or have given birth to a baby who weighed 4.1 kilograms or more

5. History of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

6. High Blood Pressure

7. Abnormal cholesterol levels (including HDL below 35 mg/dL)

8. Triglyceride level above 250 mg/dL.

Testing for pre-diabetic stage is worth the effort.

Dr. Ajay Sati.