[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/11\/pre-diabetes\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/11\/pre-diabetes\/","headline":"What Is Prediabetes?","name":"What Is Prediabetes?","description":"Learn more about diabetes and pre-diabetes, including information on the different tests used to diagnose the different types of diabetes.","datePublished":"2014-11-14","dateModified":"2025-04-09","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/endocrinology-regions","name":"Endocrinology","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/endocrinology-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/endocrinology\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Treatments-for-Acid-Reflux.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Treatments-for-Acid-Reflux.jpg","height":325,"width":753},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/11\/pre-diabetes\/","about":["Family Health","Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":1341,"keywords":["A1C","American Diabetes Association","diabetes","diabetes education","Fasting Plasma Glucose","Oral Glucose Tolerance Test","prediabetes"],"articleBody":"Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to turn sugar (glucose) into energy, which is a natural process involving the hormone insulin. The condition affects more than 29 million Americans.In people with diabetes, their bodies either don\u2019t make enough insulin or don\u2019t use insulin properly. Glucose does not move into the cells normally, which causes an increase in blood glucose levels. Over time, if left untreated, high blood glucose levels can cause serious health problems.Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are elevated, indicating that a person is at risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prediabetes also puts you at increased risk of heart disease and stroke.\u201cDiabetes and prediabetes are not like an infection, which you either have or you don\u2019t,\u201d says Divya Sistla, MD, an endocrinologist at the UPMC Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology at UPMC Mercy and UPMC McKeesport. \u201cThey are more like a spectrum where certain factors put you at higher or lower risk. Genetics and age can\u2019t be changed, but a person\u2019s dietary choices and weight can be modified to lower their risk of diabetes and thereby the complications.\u201dNearly 98 million American adults \u2014 more than 1 in 3\u00a0\u2014 have prediabetes. Without treatment, nearly 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years. However, more than 8 out of 10 people don\u2019t even know they have prediabetes.Three Common Types of DiabetesType 1\u00a0diabetes \u2014 Type 1 diabetes is most common in children and young adults. With this type, the pancreas doesn\u2019t make insulin.Type 2\u00a0diabetes\u00a0\u2014 Type 2 diabetes is the most common type. It develops when the body doesn\u2019t produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin, which is called insulin resistance.Gestational diabetes \u2014 Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy as a result of hormonal changes. Gestational diabetes typically disappears after delivery. However, these women have a 50% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes over their lifetimes.PrediabetesPrediabetesis the stage right before a person develops type 2 diabetes. It is characterized by blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be considered diabetes.Although there are no clear symptoms of prediabetes, there are some risk factors to be aware of. While a person with prediabetes may have lower blood sugar than someone with type 2 diabetes, they both share the same risk factors.Risk factors for both types are:Age \u2014 Although diabetes can develop at any age, the risk of prediabetes increases after age 45. This may be because people tend to exercise less, lose muscle mass, and gain weight as they age.Diet and nutrition \u2014\u00a0Eating red or processed meat and drinking sugar-sweetened beverages increase the risk. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil lowers your risk.Family history and genetics \u2014 Your risk of prediabetes increases if you have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes.Gestational diabetes \u2014 If your baby weighed more than 9 pounds at birth or you had gestational diabetes while pregnant, you\u2019re at increased risk.High blood pressure \u2014 High blood pressure is a risk factor for prediabetes and diabetes.Inactivity \u2014 Physical activity helps you control your weight, uses glucose as energy, and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin. Simply walking more combats this risk factor.Polycystic ovary syndrome \u2014 This common condition increases a person\u2019s risk of prediabetes.Race\/ethnicity \u2014 Certain people have a higher risk of developing the disease due to insulin resistance. They include Black Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Native Alaskans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders.Sleep\u00a0disorders \u2014 Certain sleep problems, such as sleep apnea, increase the risk of insulin resistance. Those who have jobs with changing shifts or night shifts may also have an increased risk of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.Waist size \u2014 A larger waist size can indicate insulin resistance. The risk goes up for men with waists larger than 40 inches and for women with waists larger than 35 inches.Weight \u2014 A primary risk factor: The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin.Diabetes DiagnosisIf you\u2019ve been told you are at risk for prediabetes, Dr. Sistla says your doctor may order a number of tests to confirm the diagnosis. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that screenings for adults begin at age 45. If a person is overweight and has additional risk factors, they should start earlier. The tests include:Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) testThe fasting plasma glucose screen checks your blood glucose levels after not eating or drinking anything other than water for the previous eight hours. These scores are presented in terms of milligrams per deciliter:Normal results are less than 100mg\/dl.Prediabetes is 100 mg\/dl to 125 mg\/dl.Diabetes is diagnosed at equal to or over 126 mg\/dl.Oral glucose tolerance testThe oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is a two-hour test that checks your blood glucose levels before and two hours after you consume a provided drink. The results of this test will indicate how your body processes glucose. The results of this test are also given in milligrams per deciliter:Normal is considered less than 140 mg\/dl.Prediabetes ranges from 140 to 199 mg\/dl.The diabetes range is anything higher than 200 mg\/dl.A1CThis test measures your average blood glucose level over the previous two or three months. The test measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to proteins in red blood cells (hemoglobin). The higher your blood sugar levels, the more sugar you\u2019ll have attached to the hemoglobin. The results are given in percentages:Normal is less than 5.7%.Prediabetes is 5.7 to 6.4%.Diabetes is anything equal to or higher than 6.5%.Unlike other tests, the A1C does not involve fasting from food or drinks.Preventing Type 2 Diabetes\u201cBeing diagnosed with prediabetes may be a wake-up call to alert you that you\u2019re on the path to diabetes, but it\u2019s not too late to turn things around,\u201d Dr. Sistla says. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that you will be diagnosed with diabetes. There are a number of lifestyle changes that can help delay or reverse the course of prediabetes.\u201dDr. Sistla recommends:Consuming fewer sugary drinks, refined carbohydrates, and processed fats.Eating balanced meals with adequate fiber content.Increasing physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week.Losing 5% to 7% of your body weight and maintaining the weight loss.Quitting smoking.By changing some of your eating habits and getting more exercise, you have the ability to bring your blood sugar level back toward normal.\u201cI encourage those with prediabetes to visit the\u00a0CDC\u2019s National Diabetes Prevention Program website,\u201d Dr. Sistla says. \u201cThe NDPP works in partnership with health care organizations to help people prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. There are program partners across the U.S. that can help people find\u00a0lifestyle change programs\u00a0in their local area.\u201dResearch shows that it\u2019s never too late to realize health benefits by making lifestyle changes, even in middle age. A study of participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program showed a 58% overall reduction in the risk of developing diabetes after lifestyle interventions for people of all ages. In people aged 60 and over, the study showed a 71% risk reduction.That study also showed that the onset of diabetes was delayed by four years when participants who made lifestyle changes still went on the develop type 2 diabetes.The American Diabetes Association offers an\u00a0interactive quiz\u00a0that can help you determine if you are at risk of prediabetes. The questions ask about age, gender, family history, height, and activity level.Remember: Now is not the time to panic, as there is good news that comes with the diagnosis of prediabetes. You now have the opportunity to improve your overall health while also stopping the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.To learn more about diabetes, treatment, and prevention, talk to your doctor or visit\u00a0UPMC’s diabetes care website.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 14, 2014, and was last reviewed on April 9, 2025."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Is Prediabetes?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/11\/pre-diabetes\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]