Pre-Diabetes

“Pre-diabetes” is a term used when your blood sugars have been confirmed as being above normal levels but below the levels at which we diagnose diabetes, therefore NOT high enough to be classed as diabetes.

This state has been termed “pre-diabetes” because there is an increased risk of going on to develop adult onset (Type 2) diabetes.

It is present when either:

• fasting blood glucose is 6.1 mmol/l (impaired fasting glycaemia), or
• the two hour blood glucose level during an oral glucose tolerance test is between 7.8 and 11.1 (impaired glucose tolerance), or
• the average glucose reading (called HbA1c) is between 42-48 mmol/mol.

Can Type 2 diabetes be prevented?

There are very simple and user-friendly on line tools that allow estimates of your T2DM risk, check your risk here  at Diabetesuk. Although there is a genetic risk in getting diabetes, much of this excess risk can be reduced if you follow simple changes to your diet and lifestyle outlined below.

How do I reduce my risk?

• Regular aerobic exercise (30 minutes a day)
• Reduce your intake of fat as well as your total caloric intake
• Ask your doctor to advise you on your ideal body weight; if overweight, attempt to lose weight and maintain your ideal weight
• Maintain an active lifestyle