Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not quite high enough as in type 2 diabetes. 1 in 3 U.S. adults have prediabetes. Most don’t know know it. Having pre-diabetes means that you are at an increased risk of developing serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
You could have prediabetes if you have:
- high cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- a parent, brother or sister with diabetes
Your risk goes up if you are overweight, and/or over age 45. Therefore, you should have diabetes screening if you are older than 45 or overweight.
The Science of Prediabetes
Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas. The pancreases releases insulin into the bloodstream. When the body breaks down carbohydrates from the food we eat into glucose, also known as blood sugar, insulin helps the body’s cells absorb the glucose and use it for energy.
If the cells that respond to insulin lose sensitivity, a condition known as insulin resistance develops. When people have insulin resistance, the body still produces insulin, however, it doesn’t use it effectively. This causes glucose to build up in the blood. Therefore, the cells can’t absorb it. This increase in blood glucose leads to prediabetes, and eventually type 2 diabetes, if left untreated.
The American Diabetes Association recommends one of the 3 screening tests to diagnose prediabetes:
- Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test
- Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test
- Oral glucose tolerance (OGTT) test
We offer all 3 diabetes screening tests to diagnose prediabetes at our clinics. No appointment is necessary and you’ll only wait minutes to be seen. You can call ahead at (917) 310-3371
and let us know you’re on the way or you can check in online.
