More than 86-million Americans suffer from prediabetes, and the majority of people affected by the condition, don’t even realize they have it. Being “borderline diabetic” means that your lifestyle is on a pathway to developing type 1 of type 2 diabetes.
Physicians have a tough time diagnosing prediabetes because it presents an array of symptoms associated with other common physiological dysfunctions.
Medical science is yet to discover the exact cause of prediabetes. However, there are links between the development of the condition and diet, activity, as well as a genetic predisposition.
Risk Factors Associated with the Development of Prediabetes
People suffering from prediabetes are often unaware of their disorder. Prediabetes presents a range of general symptoms that are easy to misdiagnose.
Persistent fatigue, elevated blood-pressure, discoloration of the skin and increased urination are all symptoms of prediabetes, but they’re also attributed to other conditions as well.
It’s possible for physicians to confuse the symptoms of prediabetes with such as hormone disorders, neurological disease, and cardiovascular issues as well.
People experiencing symptoms that decide to self-diagnose their condition have a high chance of attributing their symptoms to another unrelated illness or disorder.
Through millions of successful diagnosis, the medical community identified the following risk factors for developing prediabetes.
• Overweight or obese individuals.
• People older than 45-years of age.
• Sedentary lifestyle habits.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Gestational diabetes and low birth-weights.
• Hypertension and history of cardiovascular disease.
• Women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.)
• Ethnicity and race, with the highest cases diagnosed in Americans from Latino, African, and Asian descent.
Individuals that fall into the risk profile outlined above should consult with a Medical professional immediately.
Medical Testing Procedures for Diagnosing Prediabetes
To avoid misdiagnosis, it’s vital that you visit your physician. Your consultation with your medical professional will include a physical assessment and blood tests.
The test for prediabetes is the same bloodwork panel physicians use to diagnose type 2 diabetes.
The tests used to screen for prediabetes are the same as those used to screen for type 2 diabetes, the fasting plasma glucose test, and the hemoglobin A1c test.
Your doctor will start by issuing a fasted blood glucose test that requires you to abstain from eating or drinking anything but water for an 8-hour period before drawing a blood sample. Since blood glucose levels are typically lowest in the morning, physicians recommend this test be done first thing in the morning before consuming any food.
The hemoglobin A1c test measures a 3-month average of blood glucose levels. The ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes state that adults over the age of 45-years should undergo prediabetes testing, with a follow-up test every 3-years after that.
A HbA1c test with results between 5.7-percent and 6.4-percent, and a fasting blood glucose test with results between 100 and 125-mg/dL are indicative of prediabetes.
Handling the Emotional Effect of Your Diagnosis
A prediabetes diagnosis may come as a shock to many individuals. However, it's critical to understand that the diagnosis does not mean that you have diabetes. It’s possible to reverse and cure your condition by implementing lifestyle changes.
