According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 86 million Americans age 20 and older have prediabetes. “If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, it means your blood sugar levels are not high enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes but are high enough to indicate a need for change,” says Anne Bauch, registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic Health System.
A normal fasting blood sugar level is below 100, whereas a level of someone with prediabetes is between 100 and 126. Once levels have surpassed 126, it is classified as Type 2 diabetes, which indicates that your body resists insulin or doesn’t produce enough of it to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
A healthy weight allows insulin to work more efficiently and to keep blood sugars within a normal range. A healthy diet and regular exercise are the best ways to bring your blood sugar levels back to normal.
What are the risk factors for prediabetes?
• Body mass index greater than 27.
• Family history of diabetes.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Age 45 or older.
• Carrying weight in your abdomen.
• Previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes (developed while pregnant).
When should I be tested?
If you’re 45 or older, you should have your fasting blood sugar checked every year during your physical. If you’ve had gestational diabetes, it is important to have your blood sugar checked each year, as there is a 60 percent chance of developing Type 2 diabetes.