Prediabetes: What is it? What Is the Normal Prediabetes Range?
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Ragiinii Sharma
Written By Srujana Mohanty
on May 10, 2022
Last Edit Made By Srujana Mohanty
on Apr 30, 2024
CDC reports that 1 in 3 adults suffer from prediabetes; however, 80% of adults don’t even get a formal diagnosis until the condition takes a turn for the worse. Although getting a prediabetes diagnosis can be daunting, it is a blessing in disguise, mainly because it alerts the individual to make necessary lifestyle changes before things turn bad.
The American Diabetes Association advises that every individual get routine prediabetes and diabetes screening at least once every year. Prediabetes is a red flag or an alarming sign of Type-2 diabetes. So, if you are diagnosed with prediabetes, your healthcare provider will advise you to introduce lifestyle changes so the current state doesn’t transform into diabetes mellitus.
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This article will explore everything related to prediabetes and the normal prediabetes range in individuals.
In this Article
What is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is defined as the “warning sign” for type-2 diabetes. If your test reports suggest that you are prediabetic, you are at heightened risk of developing Type-2 diabetes in the near future.
People diagnosed with prediabetes have a blood glucose level that is “higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.”
While the diagnosis can signify risks of insulin resistance and the body’s impairment in handling glucose levels, prediabetes is manageable and reversible. With tangible and practical lifestyle changes, so it doesn’t move forward to Type-2 diabetes.
What are the Causes of Prediabetes?
Our body is an excellent example of self-sufficient machinery. Insulin, an essential metabolic hormone, is released from the pancreas.
Once insulin reaches the bloodstream, it is taken up by the cells and tissues to metabolize the glucose and convert it into energy.
Diabetic patients have excess insulin in their bloodstream, but the cells don’t utilize the insulin effectively.
In prediabetic patients, the available insulin in the bloodstream is doing its job but not optimally. So, what happens is that the glucose levels are somewhat managed but not in the “normal zone.” Prediabetes is a precursor of type-2 diabetes and indicates that the cells in the body are gradually becoming insulin resistant.
If immediate medical interventions aren’t taken, prediabetes can progress into type-2 diabetes.
What are the Symptoms of Prediabetes?
As we said before, over 80% of people don’t realize they are prediabetic until things turn for the worse. The primary reason behind this issue is negligence, lack of monitoring, and lack of symptoms due to the condition.
Insulin resistance, which contributes to prediabetes, is a gradual process. So, prediabetic patients seldom experience any prediabetes symptoms. However, there are a few subtle signs that people often overlook.
Some of them include:
- Increased appetite and hunger,
- Increased thirst,
- Sudden weight loss,
- Fatigue and tiredness,
- Frequent urination.
The symptoms are very cyclic. This means that excess sugar in the bloodstream leads to excessive urination, which causes dehydration and increased thirst in the patient. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is always ideal to seek medical help.
What are the common Risk Factors Involved with Prediabetes?
Now that you know the medical cause behind prediabetes, ever wondered about the warning signs? What is contributing to the condition? What is it you are doing wrong that’s causing the issue?
Like most chronic and metabolic disorders, there are multiple risk factors associated with prediabetes.
Let us explore a few common ones:
Eating an unhealthy diet – insulin resistance is often a result of poor dietary choices involving refined and processed foods. Fried and junk foods elevate blood cholesterol, visceral fat deposition, and blood pressure, which cumulatively contribute to the risks of prediabetes.
Overweight or obesity – if you are overweight or obese, you are at higher risk of prediabetes. The risks are way more in individuals with excess visceral fats around the abdominal region.
Bad habits – ill habits like smoking often contributes to prediabetes by enhancing the risks of insulin resistance by desensitizing the cells in the body.
Genetic predisposition – if you have a family history of prediabetes or diabetes, it is crucial to make healthier lifestyle choices, so situations don’t take a turn for the worse.
Aging – People over the age of 45 are at heightened risk of developing metabolic disorders in their bodies. Hence, ADA urges people above 45 to get blood glucose screening to prevent prediabetes risk.
How is Prediabetes Diagnosed?
Like standard diabetes tests, even prediabetes is diagnosed with blood glucose monitoring tests. Some of the most notable tests and the normal prediabetes ranges are as follows:
| Type of Blood Glucose Monitoring Test | Prediabetes Range for Diagnosis |
| Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test | Between 5.7% and 6.4% |
| Fasting blood sugar test | 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) |
| Oral glucose tolerance test | 140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L) |
If your test results come in the above-mentioned ranges, your doctor will alert you of the risks and warning signs. Following that, you will need to make necessary lifestyle changes, including eating a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.
As for monitoring the progress or reversal of prediabetes, your doctor will advise getting the routine blood glucose monitoring tests to check prediabetes range a1c and prediabetes range fasting at least once a year.
Is Prediabetes Common in Children?
Not just adults, prediabetes is also quite prevalent in children. Childhood obesity is the primary contributing factor to the risk.
So, children with a family history of diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity should get routine blood glucose monitoring tests to rule out the possibility of prediabetes.
According to ADA, children at risk should be tested once every six months. The frequency might be less if the child experiences accessory symptoms like blurry vision, fatigue, increased urination, etc.
How is Prediabetes Treated?
Once you are diagnosed with prediabetes, your doctor will not opt for medications as the first line of treatment. Unlike type-2 diabetes, prediabetes is a warning sign. It is a reversible condition.
So, your doctor will suggest preventive measures to reverse the disease or slow down its progression. Some of the notable treatment measures include:
- Eating a healthy, balanced, and nutritious diet with whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and healthy fats.
- Improve daily physical activity, including walking and gym training to improve the insulin’s effectiveness in the body.
- Work on weight management interventions to lose as much weight as possible to prevent further disease progression.
- If your prediabetes is exceptionally severe, your doctor might prescribe a few medications like Metformin to prevent additional insulin resistance in the cells.
FAQs
Can prediabetes go away?
Absolutely. Prediabetes is a reversible condition that is manageable with proper dietary and lifestyle interventions.
What are the warning signs of prediabetes?
Some of the warning signs of prediabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, and feeling tired throughout the day. If you have a family history of prediabetes or diabetes or are obese or overweight, getting tested is highly advised.
What blood sugar level is prediabetes?
A fasting blood glucose level above 100 to 125 mg/dL is considered a prediabetic range.
Conclusion
Prediabetes is not a chronic disease. It is a warning sign that should trigger you to ditch the unhealthy lifestyle you are leading and make healthier choices. The same pertains to both the eating habits and the level of activity involved in the person's daily life. If left unattended, prediabetes can progress to type-2 diabetes, which is a chronic disorder and involves heavy doses of prescriptions and assistive treatment.
