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Precautions in Prediabetes

Prediabetes is defined as having blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to trigger full-blown type 2 diabetes. Left untreated, many prediabetic people will develop diabetes within 10 years. Precautions you can take to prevent this range from lifestyle changes to medication. But drugs typically used to treat prediabetes can trigger potentially serious side effects and anyone who takes them should be monitored by a physician. You can take precautions to prevent or control prediabetes.

  1. Candidates for Prediabetes

    • Know the risk factors. According to the American Diabetes Association, African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian-Americans/Pacific Islanders and the elderly are more likely than others to develop prediabetes. So are those who have a family history of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, are sedentary, and have high cholesterol and triglyceride levels (a type of fat in the blood). People who have given birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds and/or are overweight are also at increased risk.

    Associated Health Risks

    • Discuss cardiovascular risk factors with a doctor because being prediabetic raises the risk of heart disease or stroke by up to 50 percent, the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute warns. These risk factors include cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels.

    Diagnosis

    • Get blood tests to check for prediabetes after the age of 44; this is especially important for those who are overweight, the American Diabetes Association advises. Physicians can order a fasting plasma glucose test or an impaired fasting glucose test. Getting tested is particularly important because most people with the condition typically exhibit no symptoms until they develop type 2 diabetes. Symptoms of diabetes include frequent thirst and urination, blurred vision and fatigue.

    Lifestyle Changes

    • Eat a healthy diet to control blood sugar levels. People who have or are at risk of developing prediabetes should eat low-fat diets that are rich in vegetables and fruits, avoid processed foods, exercise for 30 minutes a day, five times per week, and lose weight. These measures can control or even reverse prediabetes.

    Medications

    • Learn about medication side effects. PrandiMet (repaglinide and metformin) is often prescribed to treat prediabetes but it can interact with some antibiotics, anti-fungals and other medications. Other side effects include headaches, diarrhea and nausea, Diabetes.emedtv.com reports. Overdose side effects include blurry vision, seizures, breathing problems and low blood sugar. PrandiMet can also cause lactic acidosis (lactic acid buildup, a serious condition which can cause nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, muscle weakness and shortness of breath). Due to its potential side effects, PrandiMet dosages should be set and monitored by a doctor.

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