Prediabetes Treatment

The health condition in which the level of blood sugar is higher than normal but is not high enough to be categorized as diabetes is medically termed as prediabetes. 'Impaired glucose tolerance' is another term to describe the same condition. The characteristic symptoms of prediabetes are frequent urge to urinate, unusual thirst, extreme fatigue and blurred vision. Majority of the cases suffering from prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes over time. However, it is possible to halt or reverse the progression of prediabetes, or at least delay the development of type 2 diabetes.

Who is at Risk of Developing Prediabetes

A person has a higher risk of developing diabetes if he/ she

• Has a family history for diabetes.
• Is more than 40 years of age.
• Is physically inactive.
• Suffers from obesity and have a basal mass index (BMI) greater than 25.
• Has an HDL (high density lipoproteins) level below 35 mg/dl.
• Suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Has a history of gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby that was over 9 pounds in weight.

What are the Diagnostic Tests for Prediabetes

There are mainly two diagnostic tests for prediabetes, FPG and OGTT. Both tests require a person to fast for night long before the test.

FPG Test: FPG or fasting plasma glucose test measures the blood glucose level in the morning before eating anything. Normal fasting blood glucose level is below 100 mg/dl. In case of a person having prediabetes, it should be between 100-125 mg/dl.

OGTT Test: OGTT or oral glucose tolerance test is performed in two steps. It is first done to test the blood glucose level after fasting. The person is made to have a glucose-rich drink. After two hours, OGTT is repeated to measure the blood glucose level.

What is the Treatment for Prediabetes

The objective of prediabetes treatment is to bring the blood sugar level back to normal. The efforts done to achieve the treatment goal surely assists in preventing the level of blood glucose from rising more and eventually leading to type 2 diabetes. The doctors generally recommend healthy living habits to the person suffering from prediabetes. A quick overview is given here.

Follow a Healthy Diet: The person under who has prediabetes should eat wholesome foods that are low in fat and calories. A high fiber diet is great for pre diabetic patients. Such a diet involves meals made from fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Follow an Exercise Regime: Physical activeness is an important part of prediabetes treatment. It works wonders towards bringing the blood glucose level to a normal limit. A prediabetes patient should aim for minimum half hour of daily physical activity. There is no need to follow a rigorous exercise regime. Simple and moderate activities such as walking, swimming and cycling will fulfill the requirement. According to studies, a reduction of 6-10% in body weight decreases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes to a great extent.

Some prediabetes patients have comparatively higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovacular diseases, high cholesterol levels or polycystic ovary syndrome. In such cases, the medical treatment involves the usage of certain medicines to cure prediabetes. It is necessary for a patient to take medicines as directed by the physician.

It is a fact that pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes are on a continuum. If prediabetes is left untreated, it is almost sure to progress further and result in type 2 diabetes. Therefore, prediabetes treatment is necessary to save the patient's health and life.