Pre-Diabetes: Am I at risk? Many factors increase your risk for Pre-Diabetes and type 2 diabetes. To find out more about your risk, see which characteristics in this list apply to you.
I am 45 years of age or older.
I am overweight.
I have a parent with diabetes.
I have a sister or brother with diabetes.
My family background is African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.
I had diabetes while I was pregnant (gestational diabetes), or I gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more.
I am physically active less than three times a week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 of every 3 U.S. adults had Pre-Diabetes in 2010. That is 79 million Americans aged 20 years or older. The vast majority of people living with Pre-Diabetes do not know they have it.
People with Pre-Diabetes have blood glucose (blood sugar) levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes and are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
If you have Pre-Diabetes, you are 5 to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with normal blood glucose (blood sugar) levels.
When you take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes, you also lower your risk for possible complications of diabetes such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, and other health problems.
If you are 45 years of age or older, you should consider getting a blood test from a health care provider for Pre-Diabetes and diabetes, especially if you are overweight.
If your test results indicate you have Pre-Diabetes you should enroll in an evidence-based lifestyle program to lower your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. Studies show that people with Pre-Diabetes can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by losing 5% to 7% of their weight, that is just 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person ! Weight loss should be achieved by making lasting lifestyle changes to improve nutrition and increase physical activity.
If your blood test showed you have Pre-Diabetes you should also have your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels checked again in 6 months to 1 year. And do you know your A1C?