57 Million people in the United States have pre-diabetes and are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
What is pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is when a person has higher than normal blood sugar (glucose) levels, but they are not high enough to be called type 2 diabetes. Many people with pre-diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Visit the
American Diabetes Association to learn more about how to tell if you have pre-diabetes and to find pre-diabetes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
You may be at risk for pre-diabetes if you:
- Are not physically active or are active less than 3 times a week
- Are overweight
- Are 45 years or older (though kids, teens, and younger adults can get type 2 diabetes)
- Have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
- Are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, Alaska Native or Pacific Islander
- Had diabetes while you were pregnant (gestational diabetes) or gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
- Have polycystic ovary syndrome (POS)
- Have high blood pressure (140/90 or higher)
- Have cholesterol (lipid) levels that are not normal (higher than 200), HDL (“good”) cholesterol that is less than 40 or a triglyceride level that is higher than 150
If you have one or more of these risk factors, be sure to talk with your health care provider about your risk for diabetes and whether you should be tested for pre-diabetes.
How do I prevent diabetes?
People with pre-diabetes can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diet and increasing their level of physical activity. The
Diabetes Prevention Program study showed that that some medications may delay the development of diabetes, but diet and exercise worked better. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a 5-7% reduction in body weight, produced a 58% reduction in diabetes. Read more on the Diabetes Prevention Program
study results.
You can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes if you:
- Lose weight if you are overweight. Reduce your weight by 5-7%
- Get active. Participate in 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day
- Make healthy food choices. A healthy diet can help you achieve weight loss goals