Prediabetes Prevention

About 54 million people in the United States have prediabetes, which means their blood sugar level lies somewhere between normal and a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, according to the American Diabetes Association. It can serve as a warning sign that allows you to make the lifestyle changes needed to avoid developing full-fledged diabetes. But it's best to avoid even prediabetes if possible. While it doesn't generally cause any symptoms, prediabetes can mean damage to your circulatory system and heart are already beginning.

Testing

• Doctors offer several screening methods for prediabetes. The glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test reveals your average blood sugar for the last two to three months by checking the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin. More hemoglobin means higher blood sugar. If your A1C is from 6 percent to 6.5 percent, you have prediabetes. A1C above 6.5 percent on separately conducted tests means you have diabetes. Some conditions can render an A1C reading inaccurate. If your doctor determines that's the case, or if the A1C can't be done for other reasons, then diabetes can be diagnosed by testing glucose tolerance or fasting blood sugar.
  The risk factors for developing prediabetes are the same as for diabetes: being overweight, being over age 45, having a family history of diabetes, being physically inactive and being black, Hispanic, American Indian or of Asian descent. For women, having polycystic ovarian syndrome and having had gestational diabetes are risk factors.

Prevention

• The best ways to stave off prediabetes involve diet, exercise and weight loss. Low-calorie, low-fat food choices are best. Also look for foods that are high in fiber. If you stick with lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, you'll have the best shot at avoiding prediabetes. In order to stay on track with a healthy diet, it's important to treat yourself to a broad variety of foods.
  Your exercise routine need not be an Olympic training regimen, but it should consist of moderate activity performed regularly. A half-hour to an hour of exercise five days a week is good. Swimming, bicycling and brisk walking can be part of an effective prediabetes-prevention plan.
  Losing weight can be an important part of preventing prediabetes if you're overweight. As with exercise, your weight-loss endeavors need not set any world records. A modest loss of 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can yield big results for your health. The key is to make healthy eating and a physical activity routine a permanent part of your life.

Treatment

• If you already have prediabetes, treatment is not complicated. The lifestyle changes you need to make are the same ones recommended for prediabetes prevention. Your doctor may prescribe any of several medications to prevent the condition from progressing to diabetes and to prevent cardiovascular damage. Options include oral diabetes drugs such as metformin and acarbose, statins to lower blood cholesterol and low-dose aspirin.