The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 41 million Americans have prediabetes. Most of them are not aware that they have it.
Prediabetes occurs when your blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to indicate diabetes. The bad news is that most people with prediabetes develop diabetes within 10 years. The good news is that you can do something about it.
If you have prediabetes, two simple steps can help delay or prevent diabetes. If you are overweight, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that you loose 5 to 10 percent of your weight. Cutting fat, calories and walking for at least 30 minutes a day may also help you to bring your blood glucose level back to normal.
Check out our blog for a list of factors that can increase your risk of developing prediabetes/diabetes.
According to the ADA, you may be at increased risk of prediabetes/diabetes if you have one or more of the following risk factors:
- You are 45 years of age or older
- You are overweight (BMI>=25)
- You are not physically active
- You have high blood pressure
- You have a family history of diabetes (parents or siblings with diabetes)
- You had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or gave birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds
- You have low HDL (good) cholesterol (=250)
- You are African-American, Hispanic-American, Native American, Asian-American or Pacific Islander
- You have polycystic ovary syndrome
- You have a history of valvular heart disease