Prediabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than what is considered to be the normal range but not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes.
Commonly described as a ‘pre diagnosis’ of diabetes because those with it tend to be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, prediabetes can be reversed with simple, healthy lifestyle changes.
See also: What is the Best Treatment for Prediabetes?
Prediabetes symptoms
Although prediabetes doesn’t usually show many obvious signs and symptoms, one possible sign is darkened skin around certain areas of the body such as the neck, armpits or elbows.
If prediabetes has progressed into type 2 diabetes, some of the tell tale signs usually include:
- Fatigue
- Excessive thirst
- Hunger
- Frequent urination
See also: What is Type 2 Diabetes?
What blood sugar level is prediabetes?
If your haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test result is over 5.7%, it means that you have prediabetes. However, the blood glucose level that indicates prediabetes depends on the type of type of test you take to measure blood sugar, and as well as the units of the test used.
HbA1c tests often report results as a percentage, are an average measurement of how your blood sugar levels have been over the past 3 months and you do not need to fast for this test.
As there are no symptoms of prediabetes, it’s important to take a blood glucose test every 1-3 years depending on risk factors such as family history, weight, diet and level of exercise. Your doctor will recommend how often you should take a diabetes test depending on your health history.
Is prediabetes serious?
If you have prediabetes, it means that your body is trying to tell you something, the body is trying to tell you that you need to make certain lifestyle changes.
While there may not be very serious short term health complications if you are living with prediabetes, there may be severe complications if you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and have long term poor blood sugar control.
If you are living with prediabetes, all is not lost, there is still time to make the all-important lifestyle changes that could improve your quality of life and health.
One of the best ways to know more about your blood sugar levels is through a Diabetes Test - this can be done with your doctor or from the comfort of your own home with an at-home lab test.
LetsGetChecked’s at-home Diabetes Test can help provide insight into your blood sugar levels over the previous 3 months from the time taking the test. Online results will be available within 5 days and our dedicated medical team will be available throughout the process to offer a helping hand should you need one.
See also: How do you Check for Diabetes From Home?
