Could You have Pre-Diabetes?

In April, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new information stating that many more Americans than previously thought have a condition called “pre-diabetes.” Previously, it was thought that 20 million Americans had the condition. Now, new criteria have been developed that indicate that probably about 40 million people have it. This is important news for the general population at large.

Many people who have pre-diabetes develop full-blown diabetes within 10 years. Pre-diabetes is marked by blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic range.

Under the new criteria, people are considered prediabetic if they:

• Have a sugar level of 100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) of blood after a midnight fast and/or
• Have a sugar level of 140 to 199 mg/dl after eating a high-glucose food

If you’re 45 or older, ask your doctor to test your blood for pre-diabetes at your next appointment. If you’re under 45 but have other diabetes risk factors, such as being overweight, having a sedentary lifestyle, having had a baby 9 pounds or more at birth, or being a member of an ethnic minority group, it’s a good idea to have your blood tested too.

Source:
United States Department of Health and Human Services.