Prediabetes is a condition that increases your risk of type 2 diabetes — one of the most common chronic diseases in the country. If you’re diagnosed with prediabetes, it means your blood sugar levels are high but not so high that you have type 2 diabetes.
About 1 in 3 American adults has prediabetes. And more than 80% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have it.
These statistics need to change. Prediabetes isn’t talked about enough, but there’s good news: having prediabetes doesn’t mean type 2 diabetes is inevitable.
Our team at Endocrine Associates of West Village specializes in prediabetes and diabetes care in Long Island City and New York, New York. Here’s what you need to know about prediabetes and what to do if you get a prediabetes diagnosis.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that’s diagnosed when your body stops being able to use insulin to process sugar (glucose) from food and turn it into energy for your body. Instead of converting to energy, the sugar stays in your blood and damages your blood vessels over time.
This damage can lead to serious health complications, including heart disease, nerve problems, and vision loss. While proactive diabetes management helps lower your risk of complications, there’s no cure for type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes is the precursor to type 2 diabetes. It means your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not so high that you’re diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Unfortunately, neither prediabetes or type 2 diabetes have early warning signs. For many people, the only indicator of prediabetes is elevated blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes may cause noticeable symptoms only after the condition has caused irreversible damage.
Anyone can get prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. However, certain factors can increase your risk. You may be more likely to develop prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if:
A few other factors can increase the likelihood of prediabetes for women. If you have polycystic ovary syndrome or you had gestational diabetes while pregnant, your risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes may be higher.
Blood sugar screening is the only way to find out if your blood sugar is elevated and if you have prediabetes or diabetes. So if you have risk factors, talk to our team about getting a blood sugar test.
Type 2 diabetes can be managed, but the condition can't be cured. Fortunately, prediabetes isn’t diabetes. That means if you’re diagnosed with prediabetes, it’s not too late to avoid a diabetes diagnosis.
In fact, changing your habits can effectively reverse or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Healthy habits like regular physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and losing extra pounds if you’re overweight can all lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Our Endocrine Associates of West Village team works with you to develop a prediabetes treatment plan that fits your health needs. We offer education and accountability to help you make realistic, lasting lifestyle changes that can lower your risk of developing diabetes over your lifetime.
Worried about prediabetes? Now’s the time to start making healthy changes. Contact our team online or call the office nearest you to schedule a prediabetes consultation today.
