Diabetes is a growing problem, but you don’t have to become one of the statistics! Learn about prediabetes tests that can detect diabetes early on before symptoms start. You’ll also learn more about this serious disease and how to prevent it from developing in the future.
Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with pre-diabetes often do not experience any symptoms at first. But over time, complications might happen in the body. These include heart disease, kidney problems, and nerves problems. This can happen even without having had full-blown diabetes before.
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What is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a condition where your blood sugar is higher than normal. It has not reached a level that would be considered to have diabetes. It’s estimated that 93 million Americans have prediabetes and most of them don’t know they have it. Prediabetes increases your risk for developing type-II diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even cancer. In fact, people with prediabetes are up to five times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those who don’t have it. >
Symptoms of Prediabetes
It is easy to judge whether you are suffering from Prediabetes or not. It shows the following evident symptoms
Fatigue and lethargy
These are the most common symptoms of prediabetes. You may feel constantly tired and fatigued, with a lack of interest in normal activities or tasks. Lack of energy also prevents people from exercising regularly to maintain good health. If you do not have enough physical activity on a regular basis, it can result in weight gain. And, with increasing body weight comes an increased risk of prediabetes and diabetes.
Blurred vision
If you are developing diabetes, it will change the way your eyes look. When you see blurry things while doing normal activities, like reading a book or playing on the computer, it could be because something is not right. If you notice this symptom, consult your doctor immediately to get yourself checked for prediabetes or diabetes.
Increased thirst
Another common symptom of undiagnosed prediabetes and type II diabetes is increased thirst. You might find yourself constantly thirsty throughout the day, even after drinking water.
Increased urination
High levels of sugar in the blood can cause increased urination, especially at night when you are sleeping. If your body is not able to remove glucose, it will start taking it out of your body through urination. You may need to use the washroom more often, especially at night time or during the day.
Frequent infections
High blood glucose levels can cause damage to the immune system, making you more susceptible to viruses and infection. If you get colds and flu often without any other factors, you might have diabetes. It is possible that you have prediabetes or type II diabetes if you:
- weight loss that is not related to exercise
- slow-healing wounds and sores that do not heal easily
You should consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms regularly; it could be an early sign that something is wrong with your health.
Weight gain
Weight gain is one of the most common symptoms of prediabetes and type II diabetes, especially if it happens suddenly. You might notice that your clothes are becoming tighter than usual or you feel bloated all the time; this suggests that something is not right with your health. If you gain weight without any other reason, it could be an early sign of diabetes.
Increased libido
While some people think that low sex drive is a symptom of prediabetes and type II diabetes, studies show otherwise. In fact, many patients with undiagnosed prediabetes and type II diabetes experience increased interest in sexual activity; this often leads to frustration and anxiety, as they are unaware of the reason behind it. You might have diabetes if you notice changes in sexual interest or activity. This can happen without any other explanation for the change. Make sure to talk to your doctor about it.
Causes of Prediabetes
A person can have high blood sugar, but it is not diabetes. They might have prediabetes. The exact cause of prediabetes is not yet known. However, there are some things that make it more likely to happen. One of these is being obese and not exercising enough. Other common associated conditions with prediabetes can include hypertension, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome.
Diagnosis of Prediabetes
There are a number of tests that can diagnose prediabetes. These are:
Hemoglobin A-C test:
The first is the hemoglobin A-C test, which looks at levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA) and estimated average glucose (eAG). HbA is formed when hemoglobin binds to plasma glucose, and eAG estimates blood sugar levels over the last three months.
The fasting plasma glucose test:
A common way to see if someone has diabetes is the fasting blood glucose test. You must not eat for eight hours before this test, but then you can have some water. This test will tell you if someone has diabetes type 2 because high levels of blood sugar are not good for your body. The level for IFG must be between 100 and 125 milligrams per deciliter.
The glucose tolerance test:
A test for measuring blood sugar levels is the oral glucose tolerance test. This test is done by having someone drink a drink that has 75 grams of straight glucose and then checking their blood sugar levels every hour. Fasting plasma levels that are higher than 200 milligrams per deciliter are an indicator of IFG. This is an early sign of diabetes.
Prevention
Type 2 diabetes is a sickness that you can avoid or delay by staying at a healthy weight and exercising. Eat a diet that has less fat and more carbohydrates. There are different amounts of physical activity needed for different age groups and genders. But the general rule is to do between 150 and 200 minutes per week.
A balanced diet consists of vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. It also includes foods with healthy fats like olive oil or omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon and tuna. It is also important to limit sodium intake while increasing the intake of calcium since both can exacerbate insulin resistance.
Other factors that have been found to lower the risk of prediabetes include moderate alcohol intake, stopping smoking, and being at least 30 pounds under one’s ideal weight. It is also important for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes to get medical treatment. This is to help control blood sugar levels if needed.
The CDC says that there are 84 million American adults with prediabetes. They have not developed diabetes yet, but they will develop it in the future.
Conclusion
This article has provided you with information about the latest prediabetes test that is available. It’s important to know your family’s health history and what types of medical problems might be there. You can take steps to prevent these from happening. If you think this might be an issue for any of your family members, call the doctor today. When you think this might be a problem for your family member, call the doctor now.
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