Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. Prediabetes is a warning sign that you are at risk for getting type 2 diabetes. It means that your blood sugar is higher than it should be. But it's not high enough to be diabetes. The food you eat naturally turns into sugar. Your body uses the sugar for energy. Normally, an organ called the pancreas makes insulin. Insulin allows the sugar in your blood to get into your body's cells. But sometimes the body can't use insulin the right way. So the sugar stays in your blood instead. This is called insulin resistance. The buildup of sugar in your blood means you have prediabetes. Prediabetes is also called impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. Most people who get type 2 diabetes have prediabetes first. Prediabetes is caused by a buildup of sugar in your blood. Insulin allows sugar to get into your body's cells. When your body can't use insulin the right way, the sugar doesn't move into your body's cells. And that's how it builds up in your blood. Most of the time, people with prediabetes do not have symptoms. Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history. You will also get a physical exam and blood glucose testing. The results help your doctor see if you have prediabetes and are at risk for type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes can be treated by making lifestyle changes, taking medicine, or doing both. Lifestyle changes include losing weight if you need to, keeping healthy eating habits, and getting active. Treatment may help get your blood sugar level back to a more normal range. It could help you prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. The food you eat turns into sugar, which your body uses for energy. Normally, an organ called the pancreas makes insulin, which allows the sugar in your blood to get into your body's cells. But when your body can't use insulin the right way, the sugar doesn't move into your cells. It stays in your blood instead. The buildup of sugar in your blood causes prediabetes. You are more likely to get prediabetes if you: Other things that may increase your risk for prediabetes include: Other health problems can put you at risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. These include: Your risk for prediabetes is higher if you're overweight and physically inactive. To help prevent prediabetes: Try to lose 7% to 10% of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, aim to lose 14 to 20 pounds. The easiest way to lose weight is to cut calories and be more active. It can be hard to make big changes in the way you eat. It's okay to start small. Limit calories, sweets, and unhealthy fats. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and fiber. When you're active, your body uses glucose. The more active you are, the more glucose your body uses for energy. This keeps the sugar from building up in your blood. Exercise can also improve insulin resistance. Walking is a great way to start. If you already have prediabetes, these same steps can keep it from turning into type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes. If you get type 2 diabetes, you may have to carefully watch what you eat, take medicine every day, and watch for other health problems. But not everyone with prediabetes will get type 2 diabetes. Major lifestyle changes can help prevent diabetes in people who have prediabetes. These changes include losing weight, eating healthier foods, and getting more exercise. The medicine metformin can also help prevent type 2 diabetes in people who have prediabetes. But even if you take metformin, it's important to make as many healthy changes as you can. Doing both of these things may give you the best chance of delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes over the long term. When you have prediabetes, it's important to watch for symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Call your doctor if you notice that you are: You may want to talk to your doctor about testing for prediabetes if you are: Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history. You will also get a physical exam and blood sugar (glucose) testing. The results help your doctor see if you have prediabetes and are at risk for getting type 2 diabetes. Blood tests used to diagnose prediabetes in adults include: When you have prediabetes, you have a chance to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Treatment focuses on: Doing these things will also help you avoid other health problems, like heart disease and stroke, that are linked to diabetes. You may need to take medicine called metformin. It reduces the amount of sugar made by the liver in people who are insulin-resistant. Losing weight, getting active, and eating better are the best things you can do to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes. The following steps can help you set a goal to make a change for your health. Before you set a goal, think about why you want to make a change. Your reason for wanting to change is important. If your reason comes from you—and not from someone else—it will be easier for you to make a healthy change for good. For example: Start by setting a big, or long-term, goal. Maybe you want to lose 10% of your body weight. If you weigh 200 lb (91 kg), that means losing 20 lb (9 kg). Break down your big goal into smaller, short-term goals. These are the steps you'll take to reach your big goal. Do what works best for you. It's important to set goals you can reach. For example: Plan for setbacks. Use a personal action plan to write down your goals, any possible barriers to success, and your ideas for getting past them. By thinking about these barriers now, you can plan ahead for how to deal with them if they happen. Tips for staying on track: You can make healthy changes to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. When you have prediabetes, you're also at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. You can lower your risk by: Current as of: October 2, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Current as of: October 2, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org. © 1995-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.Prediabetes
Condition Basics
What is prediabetes?
What causes it?
What are the symptoms?
How is it diagnosed?
How is prediabetes treated?
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Cause
What Increases Your Risk
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What Happens
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When to Call a Doctor
Exams and Tests
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Treatment Overview
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Setting a Goal to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
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All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. Current as of: October 2, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardPrediabetes
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.