What is borderline diabetes?
Borderline diabetes, also called prediabetes, is a condition that develops before a person getstype 2 diabetes. It’s also known as impaired fasting glucose or glucose intolerance. It basically means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but they’re not quite high enough to be considered a sign of diabetes.
During theprediabetesphase, your pancreas still produces enough insulin in response to ingested carbohydrates. The insulin is less effective at removing the sugar from the bloodstream, though, so your blood sugar remains high. This condition is calledinsulin resistance.
If you have prediabetes, you should know you’re not alone. In 2015, it was estimated that84.1 million Americansage 18 and older had the condition. That’s 1 in 3 Americans.
Having prediabetes doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop diabetes. It’s a warning of what could lie ahead, however. People with prediabetes have a5 to 15 times higher riskfor type 2 diabetes than someone with normal blood sugar levels.
Those chances increase if you don’t make any healthy changes to your diet or activity habits.
Someone with insulin resistance in its early stages can develop type 2 diabetes if it continues long enough. Only
“Prediabetes is not pre-problem,” says Jill Weisenberger, MS, RD, CDE, and author of “Diabetes Weight Loss Week by Week.”
Any of these risk factors can increase your chances of developing prediabetes:
- being overweight orobese
- being inactive
- havinghigh blood pressure
- havinghigh cholesterol
- having a close family member with type 2 diabetes
- giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
Prediabetes is a silent condition, so getting a regular wellness checkup is important for early detection. If you think you might have borderline diabetes, discuss your concerns with your doctor.
If your doctor is concerned you may have prediabetes, they’ll most likely perform ahemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testor口服葡萄糖耐量试验(OGTT).
HbA1c is an indicator of your blood sugar patterns over the last two to three months, so it’s often a better overall picture than a single fasting blood sugar check. An HbA1c level between 5.7 and 6.4 indicates prediabetes.
High blood glucose levels, especially if they’re left untreated, can affect other systems in your body. This can leave you vulnerable to a variety of health risks and chronic health conditions. For example, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to:
- vision loss
- nerve damage
- kidney damage
- cardiovascular disease
The high insulin levels that come with insulin resistance can cause additional problems.
A large, multicenter research study called the
With modest weight loss and exercise, study participants reduced their risk of developing diabetes by
The power of healthy food and exercise habits can’t be overstated. Take charge of your health by focusing on simple dietary and lifestyle changes.
Eat healthier
Focus on whole foods andcomplex carbohydratessuch as beans, grains, and starchy vegetables. Pass on thesimple sugars, like those in processed baked goods. Those can raise blood sugar without providing wholesome nutrition.
For help in planning meals to prevent diabetes, make an appointment with a dietitian. TheAmerican Diabetes Associationalso offers great tips on diabetes-friendly cooking.
Move more
Aim for 150 minutes ofexerciseeach week. Any activity is better than nothing. Even walking counts.
Lose weight
If you’re overweight,losing weightcan reduce your risk. A healthier diet and increasing your activity level should help you achieve this goal.
Medications
If you do have prediabetes, your doctor may even prescribe a medication, such asmetformin(Glumetza, Glucophage, Fortamet, Riomet). This can also help increase insulin sensitivity and keep blood glucose levels in check.
今天开始任何饮食和生活方式的改变。它会give you the best chance of preventing diabetes in the first place while also avoiding any potential complications from uncontrolled diabetes.
While finding out this early diagnosis can be upsetting, it doesn’t have to mean you’ll develop diabetes, says Dr. Kristine Arthur, MD, of MemorialCare Medical Group in Fountain Valley, California.
“Itcanbe reversed and youcanstop the progression to diabetes,” Arthur says.
