Pre-Diabetes

Pre-diabetes, also known as "impaired glucose tolerance," is a health condition with no symptoms. It is almost always present before a person develops the more serious type 2 diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, 54 million people in the U.S. over age 20 have pre-diabetes with blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but are not high enough to be classified as diabetes.

More and more, doctors are recognizing the importance of diagnosing pre-diabetes as treatment of the condition may prevent more serious health problems. For example, early diagnosis and treatment of pre-diabetes may prevent type 2 diabetes as well as associated complications such as heart and blood vessel disease and eye and kidney disease. Doctors now know that the health complications associated with type 2 diabetes often occur before the medical diagnosis of diabetes is made.

Who's At Risk for Developing Type 2 Diabetes?

Those at risk for type 2 diabetes include:

• People with a family history of type 2 diabetes.
• Women who had gestational diabetes or have had a baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
• Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, and Pacific Islanders, minority groups that are disproportionately affected by diabetes.
• People who are overweight or obese, especially around the abdomen (belly fat).
• People with high cholesterol, high triglycerides, low good 'HDL' cholesterol and a high bad 'LDL' cholesterol.
• People who are inactive.
• Older people. As people age they are less able to process glucose appropriately and therefore have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

What Are the Symptoms of Pre-Diabetes?

Although most people with pre-diabetes have no symptoms at all, symptoms of diabetes may include unusual thirst, a frequent desire to urinate, blurred vision, or extreme fatigue.

A medical lab test may show some signs that suggest pre-diabetes may be present.

Who Should Be Tested for Pre-Diabetes?

You should be tested if:

• You're over 45 years of age.
• You have any risk factors for diabetes.
• You're overweight with a BMI (body mass index) over 25.
• You belong to a high risk ethnic group.
• You were know to previously have an abnormal glucose tolerance test (see below) or have an impaired fasting glucose level (see below).
• You have a history of gestational diabetes or delivering a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds.
• You have clusters of problems seen in the metabolic syndrome. These problems include high cholesterol and triglycerides, high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol, central obesity, hypertension, and insulin resistance.
• You have polycystic ovarian syndrome

How Is Pre-Diabetes Diagnosed?

To determine if you have pre-diabetes, your doctor can perform two different blood tests – the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

During the FPG blood test your blood glucose level is measured after an 8 hour fast. This laboratory health screening can determine if your body metabolizes glucose correctly. If your blood glucose level is abnormal after the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, you could have what's called "impaired fasting glucose," which suggests pre-diabetes.