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Prediabetes is characterised by a blood sugar level that is above normal. It is not yet at a level sufficient to classify as type 2 diabetes. But without making adjustments to their lifestyle, children and adults with prediabetes have an elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The long-term effects of diabetes, particularly to the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys, may already be beginning if you have prediabetes. But there is good news. It is not a given that prediabetes will progress to type 2 diabetes.
According to Mayo Clinic, eating healthy foods, making physical activity part of your daily routine and staying at a healthy weight can help bring your blood sugar level back to normal. The same lifestyle changes that can help prevent type 2 diabetes in adults might also help bring children’s blood sugar levels back to normal.
Prediabetes doesn’t usually have any signs or symptoms
Up to 85% of individuals who have prediabetes are unaware that they have the illness. Darkened skin on certain body areas is one potential indicator of prediabetes. The groin, armpits, and neck may be affected as well.
Classic signs and symptoms that suggest you’ve moved from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes include:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
- Frequent infections
- Slow-healing sores
- Unintended weight loss
8 Risk Factors
On the occasion of World Diabetes Day on 14th of November, the Britannia P&I Club highlighted the following risk factors for developing prediabetes, which are the same as those for diabetes:
- Family history – having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
- Age – risk increases after the age of 45 years
- Being overweight- the fattier tissue (subcutaneous and visceral) you have, the more resistant the cells become to insulin
- Waist size – insulin resistance goes up with waists larger than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women
- Diet – eating a diet with lots of red meat, processed meat and sugar-sweetened beverages
- Being inactive – being physically active less than 3x/week
- Smoking – can increase insulin resistance
- Obstructive sleep apnoea- a condition where sleep is repeatedly disrupted.
Race and ethnicity are also a factor, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes. For instance, African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at higher risk. According to CDC, diabetes is harder to live with than prediabetes considering that people with prediabetes have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. The risk of serious health problems increases even more for people with diabetes.
Ask for help
If you have any type 2 diabetes symptoms or indications, or if you have concerns about diabetes, see your healthcare professional. If you have any diabetes risk factors, ask your doctor about blood sugar screenings. Additionally, you may learn how to eat healthily and fit more exercise into your day by working with a qualified coach to develop practical, long-lasting lifestyle changes. It’s also critical to learn stress management techniques, maintain motivation, and troubleshoot issues that can impede your progress.
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