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What Is Pre Diabetes

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The facts tell the story all to well. More than 18 million Americans live with diabetes every day, and that number is continuing to grow at a staggering pace. Even more alarming is the fact that 5 million people don't even know they have diabetes. In addition, roughly 41 million Americans have pre-diabetes, which left undetected and untreated, progresses into full-blown diabetes.

So, how do you know if you need tested for pre-diabetes and how do you know if you have it?

One of the main problems with diabetes is that many times you may have it and it won't even know it. As a human we generally wait to go see a doctor until we have a medical problem. It usually takes a pain, cut, or sickness that affects us severely before we head off to see a doctor. It's just the way we are.

This presents a major problem in knowing if you have pre-diabetes. You may have the tell-tale symptoms such as frequent thirst, urination and unexplained weight loss or gain, but you don't realize it is a sign. Therefore, it can be damaging your body without you knowing it. Diabetes is a slow developing disease, but if it's not caught in time it can be catastrophic.

The good news with all of this is that you can likely prevent the onset of diabetes with early detection and the right care. Don't wait until you don't feel right to be checked out. Ask your doctor, if they haven't already recommended it during a routine physical, to have your blood sugar checked. It's very quick, very simple, and is not painful.

Your doctor can find out if you have pre-diabetes by doing a glucose test. It requires you to fast overnight and not eat anything until after the doctor checks your blood sugar level. The fasting glucose test is done with a simple blood test. The results should be available to you within a day or two at most. An even easier quick test is with a finger stick and putting it in a blood glucose tester. It gives results in 5 seconds.

Diabetes is a very serious health issue. Please, don't wait until it's too late. Have yourself checked at least every six months and keep yourself on the road to good health.

What Is Pre Diabetes

When your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes, you have a condition known as impaired glucose tolerance, or pre diabetes. Pre diabetes is usually accompanied by insulin resistance, and most people that are diagnosed with it go on to develop type 2 diabetes within a 10 year period.

Are You At Risk?

If you are over 45 years of age, are overweight, have a history of diabetes or gestational diabetes, have high blood pressure or are from a minority group with a higher risk of diabetes (Hispanic, African American, American Indian, Asian American/Pacific Islanders), you are at a higher risk of having pre diabetes and developing diabetes.

Detecting Pre Diabetes

Two tests are mainly used in detecting the presence of pre-diabetes:

In a fasting plasma glucose test, fasting glucose levels between 100 and 125 mg/dl are considered pre diabetes; higher levels will indicate the presence of diabetes.

In an oral glucose tolerance test, blood glucose levels between 140 and 199 mg/dl are considered pre diabetes; higher levels will indicate the presence of diabetes.

Pre diabetes symptoms are gradual and often go unnoticed. Many people have pre diabetes and diabetes without even knowing it. If any of the risks factor described above apply to you, talk to your doctor about getting tested. Other symptoms that you may notice include increased appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Pre Diabetes Treatment - The Good News!

Detecting pre diabetes early and following the needed treatment can actually reverse the condition and possibly bring blood glucose levels back to normal. Lifestyle changes are the effective way of treating pre diabetes and delaying or even preventing the development of type 2 diabetes. The health choices that you make on a daily basis can make a huge difference on your diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. If you make the needed lifestyle changes and follow your doctor's advice, your will dramatically lower your risks.

The needed lifestyle changes include:

&bull A healthy, low carb diet

&bull Staying physically active.

&bull Loosing weight

Talk to your doctor and come up with a plan that will fit you and your lifestyle best in order to keep pre diabetes under control.

Conclusion

Type 2 diabetes is a dangerous condition that is many times preceded by pre diabetes. Remember that you have the power to do something about it! If you act early and follow the needed lifestyle changes, educate yourself and work with your health care team, you can definitely slow down or even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and the complications associated with it.

For more information on diabetes visit http://www.yourlifewithdiabetes.com

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About Author

Both Terry Edwards & Jesus Chirino are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Terry Edwards has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage, Yoga and Health. You can find out more about the Dawn Phenomenon as well as much more information on diabetes issues at. Terry Edwards's top article generates over 60500 views. Bookmark Terry Edwards to your Favourites.

Jesus Chirino has sinced written about articles on various topics from Diabetes Treatment, Blood Pressure and Silver Jewelry. Jesus Chirino is webmaster of Your Life with Diabetes, a website dedicated to providing free diabetes information and resources.. Jesus Chirino's top article generates over 1900 views. Bookmark Jesus Chirino to your Favourites.

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