Did you know if you are 45 years old or older, overweight, and inactive, you may have prediabetes?

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes means you have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Glucose is a form of sugar your body uses for energy. Too much glucose in your blood can damage your body over time. Prediabetes is also called impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

If you have prediabetes, you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Being overweight and physically inactive contributes to prediabetes. You can sometimes reverse prediabetes with weight loss that comes from healthy eating and physical activity.

How do I know if I have prediabetes?

Most people with prediabetes don’t have any symptoms. Your doctor can test your blood to find out if your blood glucose levels are higher than normal.

Who should be tested for prediabetes?

If you are 45 years old or older, your doctor may recommend that you be tested for prediabetes, especially if you are overweight. Being overweight means your body mass index (BMI) is over 25. BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height. If you’re not sure, ask your doctor if you are overweight.

Even if you are younger than 45, consider getting tested if you are overweight and

• are physically active less than three times a week
• have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
• have high blood pressure
• have abnormal levels of HDL cholesterol or triglycerides, two types of blood fats
• had gestational diabetes-diabetes during pregnancy-or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
• are African American, American Indian, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
• have polycystic ovary syndrome
• have dark, thick, velvety skin around your neck or in your armpits
• have blood vessel problems affecting your heart, brain, or legs

If the results are normal, you should be retested in 3 years. If you have prediabetes, you should be tested for type 2 diabetes every year or two.

What can I do about prediabetes?

Losing weight-at least 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight-can prevent or delay diabetes or even reverse prediabetes. That’s 10 to 20 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds. You can lose weight by cutting down on the amount of calories and fat you consume and being physically active at least 30 minutes a day. Physical activity also helps make your body’s insulin work better.

Ask your doctor if you should also take medicine to help control the amount of glucose in your blood.

The National Diabetes Education Program’s “Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 Diabetes” campaign has more information about preventing diabetes.