DoctoriDuniya HealthFeed

Prediabetes - Alarm to prevent type 2 diabetes

Post by DoctoriDuniya

Prediabetes is a condition where the blood sugar is higher than usual but not higher enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes. If it goes unchecked, it will lead to type 2 diabetes and related medical complications.

The larger population has prediabetes who have not been diagnosed and will be having diabetes very shortly within 5 to 8 years if they do not make significant lifestyle changes.

10% of the world population suffered from diabetes. Around 85 million adults have prediabetes in the USA; the estimated prevalence of prediabetes is 14% in India. If not treated, it is a condition that can lead to Type 2 Diabetes in the coming years.

Sign and Symptoms of Prediabetes

The diagnosed case of prediabetes is only the tip of the iceberg. 90% of prediabetic patients do not even know they are prediabetic. In many people, symptoms may not be present at all, or it may be like:

· Excessive thirst & hunger

· Tiredness and fatigue

· Frequent urination

· Weight gain

Causes of Prediabetes

Prediabetes is an initial medical condition where the body doesn’t respond to the pancreas’ insulin hormone. Insulin maintains the level of glucose in the blood. A person is more likely to get prediabetes due to the following factors:

1. Age: Older people are more prone to prediabetes, significantly above age 45–50.
2. Body Weight: People with more weight having waist sizes larger than 40 inches are prone to develop this disorder.
3. Diet: A person consuming lots of processed food, Red meat, sugary beverages in diet, and less quantity of fruit, vegetables, nuts can lead to the prediabetic condition.
4. Cholesterol level: Blood profile having high cholesterol, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and high LDL cholesterol.
5. Lack of exercise: Lethargic lifestyles risk in prediabetes. The body of a physically inactive person doesn’t utilize blood glucose as energy. Less activity or training leads to uncontrolled weight and makes cells more resistant to insulin.
6. Heredity: Anyone in the family, either parents or siblings, has diabetes, then there is the risk of developing prediabetes.
7. Race: It is found that African-Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans are at increased risk of prediabetes.
8. Gestational Diabetes: Women who sometimes develop temporary diabetes during pregnancy called Gestational diabetes are at risk of developing prediabetes later.
9. Irregular Sleep Pattern: People having irregular sleep patterns due to various reasons like sleep disorder, work in changing shifts, night shifts, etc., and are at increased risk of prediabetes.

How do doctors diagnose prediabetes?

A diabetes doctor or Endocrinologist recommends diabetes screening for most adults above age 45 or those who fall under the risk as mentioned above factors. Diabetes screening includes the following tests.

Fasting Blood Sugar Test: This test is done around 8 hours after the meal. An average level is around 100 mg/dl. If this fasting blood sugar level is between 100 to 125 mg/dl, then there is an indication of prediabetes. Above 126 is an indication of diabetes.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: This test is done two hours after a regular meal or sugary drink. Results are expected if the level of blood glucose is up to 140 mg/dl. If glucose level ranges from 140 to 199 mg/dl, then it is prediabetes. Above 200 mg/dl indicates diabetes.

HbA1C (Glycated Hemoglobin Test): This test shows the body’s average sugar level for the past 2–3 months. Glycated Hemoglobin is Hemoglobin attached to sugar. This test measures glycated hemoglobin levels in the blood.

· HbA1c level up to 5.7% is average.

· HbA1c range between 5.7–6.4 is a prediabetic condition.

· Above 6.5% is regarded as diabetic.

Treatment & Prevention

The positive thing about prediabetes is that this is a medical condition from where if you take a proper diet, exercise, and follow a strict regime of lifestyle then you can reverse the propensity of developing diabetes. Treatment usually consists of self-care, lifestyle changes, medication, and proper supervision of an endocrinologist. To treat or reverse prediabetes, one has to follow the following steps.

 

• Eat a healthy diet: Healthy diet includes a balanced diet, natural foods, and a controlled carb diet. One should choose whole grains and their products in their diet.
• Exercise: One can start regular exercise, like walking for at least 25–30 minutes. Aerobic activity improves cardio health. Regular exercise and an active lifestyle maintain the blood glucose level. You can keep your Cholesterol level and Blood pressure under control.
• Stop Smoking
• Medication: For treatment, medicines like metformin is needed to lower blood sugar if you are at high risk.

You can also consult online at various medical consultancy websites like practo, doctoriduniya, etc., for your prediabetic condition. At DoctoriDuniya You can book an appointment online with a diabetes doctor 24X7, with eOPd and an e-prescription facility.

At DoctoriDuniya prediabetic patients download DoctoriDuniya — Free Medical App and create their online Personal Medical Account called NAINI. Here they can track the history of e-prescriptions of general medicines and, get free follow-ups; get an online doctor consultation with General physicians or Endocrinologists and store their lab reports & Health records for further actions at NAINI.