What is it?
Pre-diabetes is diagnosed for those individuals whose fasting blood sugar values fall between 100-125 mg/dL. They are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Who should be tested?
Anyone who is 45 years of age or older and is overweight should be screened annually for pre-diabetes/diabetes. Those with the following additional risk factors for type 2 diabetes should also be screened annually:
- Family history of diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High triglycerides
- Low HDL ("good" cholesterol)
- History of gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
- African American, Asian, Pacific-American, North American Native or Hispanic ethnicity
Can a person delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes?
Yes. By taking the following steps, it's possible to delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes:
Be active (At least 30 minutes of exercise a day)
Eat a healthy diet (Low-fat and colorful foods)
Maintain a healthy weight
For more information about pre-diabetes, please contact the diabetes educators at the HealthReach Diabetes, Endocrine & Nutrition Center at (603) 926-9131, or click here. |
