Every day thousands of people learn that they have pre-diabetes. That knowledge can make people react in different ways. One person's initial reaction may be panic or worry about what to do next. Another person may be nonchalant and feel "it's not really that bad!" Whatever the case may be, the person with a pre-diabetes diagnosis is faced with a medical condition that has the potential to be serious. What may be lost in hearing such news, is that having pre-diabetes actually presents an opportunity to set things right again.
What exactly is pre-diabetes? It is defined as a state that is between having normal blood sugar and type 2 diabetes. An elevated fasting blood glucose or hemoglobin A1c are reliable indicators for diagnosing pre-diabetes. Individuals who are overweight, obese, or have a strong family history of diabetes would be well advised to get screened for diabetes. Those who already have pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Recent data from the National Diabetes Fact Sheet suggests that there are now an estimated 57 million Americans with pre-diabetes. Left untreated, pre-diabetes can progress to full blown diabetes. Once a person has diabetes, there is significant potential for complications and negative alterations in well-being. Diabetes is not a reversible condition.
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