Where do I begin | Pre-Diabetes | Phase One
Pre-Diabetes
Over 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes. Another estimated 57 million individuals are at risk for developing diabetes and have pre-diabetes. Most of these people do not even realize that they are at risk.
Pre-Diabetes, also known as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and/or impaired fasting glucose (IFG), is a condition in which a person's blood glucose level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Normal fasting blood glucose levels are below 100 mg/dL. People with pre-diabetes will have fasting blood glucose levels between 100-125 mg/dL and an A1C range of 5.7 - 6.4%. Diabetes occurs at fasting blood glucose levels of 126 mg/dL and above.
People at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes include those who:
- Have an A1C ≥ 5.7
- Have IGT and/or IFG
- Are 45 years of age or older
- Are overweight or obese (BMI greater than or equal to 25) View BMI chart
- Have a family history of diabetes
- Are physically inactive or exercise less than 3 times per week
- Have low HDL cholesterol (Less than 35 mg/dL) and/or high triglycerides (Greater than 250 mg/dL)
- Had gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- Lead a sedentary lifestyle
- Are suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure greater than 140/90 mm/Hg
- Belong to a high risk ethnic group (e.g., Non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and American Indians and Alaska Natives)
People who have pre-diabetes also have an increased risk for heart disease and stroke.
It is important to understand that developing diabetes is not inevitable if you have pre-diabetes. There are a couple of lifestyle choices you can make to help prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. Decreasing your caloric intake and modestly increasing exercise can make the difference between whether or not you will develop diabetes.
For more information on the risk factors for diabetes visit the Risk Factors section.
