Pre-Diabetes

Before developing type 2 diabetes, most people show symptoms of pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levelsmeasure higher than normal but not as high as it does withdiabetes. People with pre-diabetes - 79 million Americans, or 35 percent of U.S. adults - face an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes within a decade unless they change their eating habits and get more exercise. Research suggests that pre-diabetes may cause some damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system.

Diabetes is a progressive disease, and pre-diabetes may take years to develop into diabetes. During the time before overt detection and diagnosis, the pancreas is producing lesser amounts of insulin because of beta cell destruction. Fasting blood glucose levels are rising and may be higher than normal but not in the full diabetes range. There may be no symptoms during this time, but the higher glucose levels continue to damage the beta cells and other organs. Pre-diabetes is defined as a fasting blood glucose of 100-125mg/dl, or after meals a blood glucose of 140-199mg/dl, or a HgA1c of 5.7-6.4 percent. Routine yearly blood tests can screen for pre-diabetes. Patients may be able to stop the progression onto type 2 diabetes by losing 7-10 percent of body weight, eating a balanced diet and exercising 30 minutes, five times per week.

For the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet," click here.

Pre-diabetes is diagnosed with a blood test with the Fasting Plasma Glucose 100mg/dl or greater and 126mg/dl or less. (Diabetes care)