Pre-Diabetes

Pre-Diabetes

What is pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 57 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes. Long term damage to the heart and circulatory system may already be occurring during pre-diabetes. If you have pre-diabetes, you have an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Early diagnosis and treatment of pre-diabetes may reduce your risk of diabetes as well as the complications of diabetes, such as heart, blood vessel, eye, and kidney disease.

How do I know if I have pre-diabetes?

There are two different blood tests that can diagnose both pre-diabetes and diabetes: the fasting plasma glucose test and the oral glucose tolerance test.  

Am I at risk for developing pre-diabetes?

Risk factors for developing pre-diabetes and diabetes are the same and include:

• Overweight or obesity (body mass index greater than 25)
• Greater than 45 years of age
• Being a member of a high risk ethnic population (African-American, Hispanic/Latino American, Native American, Asian-American and Pacific Islander)
• High blood pressure (greater than 140/90 mm Hg)
• Low HDL cholesterol (less than 35 mg/dl) and high triglyceride level (greater than 250 mg/dl)
• First degree relative with diabetes (mother, father, sibling)
• History of gestational diabetes
• History of giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
• Lack of physical activity
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Vascular disease (any condition that affects your circulatory system such as coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease)

What is the treatment for pre-diabetes?

Research has shown that if you make changes in your lifestyle to manage your blood glucose when you have pre-diabetes, you may delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. Progression to type 2 diabetes is not inevitable. Early intervention can really make a difference. According to the Diabetes Prevention Program, the incidence of diabetes was reduced by 58% with lifestyle interventions that included a 7% weight loss through a healthy low-calorie, low-fat diet and physical activity of moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes, five times per week.

How can fit4D help me prevent diabetes?

Fit4d provides the tools and services you need to decrease your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Our free interactive webinars provide information on a number of relevant topics and our monthly e-newsletter has tips to make your day-to-day choices easier. Individual coaching may be extremely valuable if you would like personalized assistance putting health recommendations into practice. Services are tailored to your personal needs and are delivered through online nutrition and fitness programs, email and phone chats. You may choose a one-time phone call with a fit4d coach for specific questions or an 8-16 week on-going coaching program. The coaches integrate motivational support with custom-made nutrition and fitness plans.

Meredith Liss, MA, RD, CDN, CDE
Fit4D Nutrition Coach

References

1. American Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.org/pre-diabetes.jsp
2. Knowler WC, Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, et al. Reduction in the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes with Lifestyle Intervention of Metformin. New England Journal of Medicine 2002; 346 (6): 393-403