Approximately 38.4 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, and nearly three times as many are at risk of developing diabetes, even if they don’t know it.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), approximately 98 million U.S. adults had prediabetes in 2021.
Prediabetes is almost always a precursor to type 2 diabetes, the most common type, but experts say the outcome is not inevitable. If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, there are steps you can take to get back on a healthy track.
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What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a condition that occurs when blood sugar levels rise above normal levels, but it’s still a diagnosable disease, says Marjorie Nolan Cohn, registered dietitian and clinical director at Berry Street, a nutritional therapy provider in New York City. It is said that it is not.
As of 2021, approximately 38.4 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes, and approximately 98 million have prediabetes. (St. Petersburg)
“Think of prediabetes as a major warning sign that a formal diabetes diagnosis is on the decline,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Prevention requires immediate action and can literally extend your life.”
What causes prediabetes?
Dr. Akhil Shenoy, a Texas endocrinologist and medical consultant for diabetes management company Aeroflow Diabetes, says there are several factors that can lead to prediabetes.
That includes a family history of type 2 diabetes and a personal history of gestational diabetes, Shenoy told Fox News Digital.
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People with excess weight, sedentary lifestyles, smoking habits, and lack of sleep are also at increased risk.
Diets high in red and processed meat, low in vegetables and high in sugar also contribute to prediabetes and diabetes, Shenoy said.
According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 98 million U.S. adults had prediabetes as of 2021.
“Even skipping a meal can disrupt the balance between blood sugar and insulin levels, leading to the development of prediabetes, especially in people with multiple risk factors,” Cohn added.
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Certain ethnicities tend to be more susceptible, with Asian, Hispanic and black American adults more likely to develop prediabetes than white Americans, experts said.
How is prediabetes diagnosed?
Cohn said prediabetes is diagnosed through a blood test that measures blood sugar levels over time.
“Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a marker that assesses your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months,” she told FOX News Digital.
Prediabetes is diagnosed by a blood test that measures blood sugar levels over time. (St. Petersburg)
“This will give you a broader picture of your blood sugar levels.”
Additional lab tests include a fasting blood glucose test, which provides a snapshot of blood sugar levels at a specific date and time, Cohn noted.
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“For this fasting test, you haven’t eaten or drank anything since the night before,” she said.
“Both a hemoglobin A1c test and a fasting blood sugar test can help your doctor diagnose you as prediabetic.”
7 ways to improve prediabetes
While a diagnosis of prediabetes can be scary, it doesn’t necessarily have to lead to type 2 diabetes, Cohn emphasized.
“If we act now, we can prevent the onset of diabetes,” she says.
Some people need medications to keep their blood sugar levels at healthy levels. (St. Petersburg)
Kohn and Chenoy recommended several ways to reverse prediabetes.
1. Take a walk after meals or snacks
2. Do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week
3. Drink water instead of soda
4. Eat a healthy diet with a balance of lean protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, and limit saturated fat.
5. If you are overweight or obese, create a calorie deficit to lose at least 5% of your body weight.
6. If you smoke, quit.
7. See a doctor or specialist if necessary
One way to reverse prediabetes is to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. (St. Petersburg)
“If your blood sugar levels remain elevated despite taking these measures, medicines may be prescribed to further reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” Chenoy advised.
Cohn also recommends seeing a registered dietitian who can help you establish habits to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
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“At this stage, lifestyle and dietary changes have been shown to be most effective for the majority of people with prediabetes,” she added.
