Pre-diabetes... what's the big deal?

Pre-diabetes is a condition that is estimated to be affecting 16 million people (that is in addition to the estimated 17 million people with diabetes).  While the name is new, the condition certainly is not.  Pre-diabetes used to be called impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose.  By definition, pre-diabetes is a condition where one has fasting blood sugar levels above normal (blood sugar between 100-125 mg/dl) but the blood sugar levels are not high enough to diagnose diabetes (fasting blood sugar above 126 mg/dl).

Pre-diabetes or diabetes risk increases with the following factors:

• family history of diabetes,
• ethnicity of Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Native American, or African American,
• overweight or obese,
• high blood pressure
• low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides
• history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 lbs

If you are at risk, get your blood sugar tested.  If your doctor has diagnosed you with pre-diabetes or mentioned impaired glucose tolerance to you, take action to prevent or delay onset of diabetes.

Those with pre-diabetes are more likely to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the future but there are preventative measures.  Following a diet low in fat and a reduction in calories, physical exercise, and weight loss if overweight can help prevent or delay diabetes.  These preventative measures can "turn back the clock" and return elevated blood sugars to normal levels.

DiabetesPlanner.com offers complete menus with recipes, grocery lists, and Nutrition Facts to support weight loss and glucose control.  These menus are e-mailed to you weekly to help you stay focused on preventing or delaying onset of Type 2 Diabetes.