It's common. And most importantly, it's reversible. You can prevent or delay prediabetes from turning into type 2 diabetes with simple, proven lifestyle changes.
Diagnosing prediabetes
If you're worried about prediabetes you could call your GP surgery and ask for a blood test. The most common test will be checking your HbA1c levels which is your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months.
Prediabetes happens when the insulin in your body doesn't work as well as it should. Insulin helps the cells in your body use glucose from your blood. When the insulin doesn't work properly, too much glucose builds up in your blood. Higher levels than normal can indicate prediabetes.
If you have prediabetes, the cells in your body don't respond normally to insulin. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. Eventually your pancreas can't keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes—and type 2 diabetes down the road.
The short answer...
Yes, prediabetes can be reversed. The most effective way to reverse prediabetes, or return to normal blood sugar levels, is to focus on exercise, healthy eating, and losing weight. Some medications may also work to stop prediabetes becoming diabetes, but none have been approved by the FDA.
While lifestyle changes can work wonders, some people with prediabetes also need medication. Your doctor may prescribe metformin if you have certain risk factors, such as low levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol, high triglycerides (a type of blood fat), a parent or sibling with diabetes, or are overweight.
However, high cortisol levels caused by stress can impact your blood sugar, weight and eating habits. In other words, stress is one of many factors that can contribute to insulin resistance (prediabetes) and diabetes risk.
What are Prediabetes and Diabetes? Having prediabetes means your blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal—but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes. Prediabetes can often be reversed.
Who should take an at-home diabetes test? Anyone who wants to understand their risk of diabetes should take an at-home diabetes test. Because these kits only require blood from a finger prick, they're safe for most people to use. You can then use the results to see if you need medical guidance.
New research has revealed that having a preference for evening activities, going to bed late, and not getting enough sleep may lead to weight gain among people with prediabetes.
Build up to doing at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity activity (like a brisk walk, light cycling, dancing or water exercise) to vigorous activity (like jogging, singles tennis or hiking hills). You'll improve the way your body stores and uses glucose, as well as your stamina and heart health.
For most people without diabetes, normal blood sugar levels are: between 4 and to 6 mmol/L before meals. less than 8 mmol/L two hours after eating.
The hazard of prediabetes isn't just that it might lead to diabetes. Individuals with it are also at a higher risk of developing heart disease and stroke, even if they don't yet have full-fledged diabetes.
A study from 2018 suggests that regularly eating eggs could improve fasting blood glucose in people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. The researchers here suggest that eating one egg per day could reduce a person's risk of diabetes.
You're at risk for prediabetes if you: Are overweight. Are 45 years or older. Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes.
Left untreated, prediabetes can permanently harm your pancreas, the organ in your body responsible for creating insulin, which breaks down sugar into energy. High blood sugar occurs when your cells stop responding to the insulin your pancreas produces, which means the sugar isn't breaking down into energy.
A normal fasting blood sugar level is below 100; whereas, the level of a person with prediabetes is between 100 and 126. Once levels have surpassed 126, it's classified as Type 2 diabetes.
Your doctor may prescribe you metformin, which helps to control blood sugar levels by helping your body to make less glucose (sugar) and to use your natural insulin better. You will still need to maintain a healthy diet and exercise even if you are on metformin.
Your safest choices will be those that stay away from high-carb and high-sugar ingredients. Stick to dry and light wines, light beers, spirits mixed with sparkling water or fresh citrus, or hard seltzers. Stay away from high-calorie heavy beers, dessert wines, and fruity and sugary mixed drinks or cocktails.
Drink in Moderation
Most people with diabetes can enjoy some alcohol. Rules are the same as for everyone else: one drink per day for women; two for men. But you need to know how alcohol affects your blood sugar. A sugary drink might spike your blood sugar.
Fruits like bananas are healthy foods that contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals. You can include bananas in your diet even if you have diabetes. Check with your healthcare team before changing your eating plan.