Prediabetes is when your blood sugar (glucose) levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Having prediabetes puts you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The good news is that prediabetes is reversible!
Of the Idaho adults who reported they have prediabetes in 2021 (10.7%), 50.4% reported they also have high cholesterol and 43.1% reported they have high blood pressure.
Ask your healthcare provider about getting a simple blood test if you have any of these risk factors:
- Have an unhealthy weight (overweight or obese; BMI of 25 or higher)
- Are 45 years or older
- Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
- Are physically active less than 3 times a week
- Have a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby more than 9 pounds
- Have polycystic ovary syndrome
Prediabetes FAQs
An A1c blood test can help identify prediabetes, which raises your risk for diabetes.
| Result | A1c |
|---|---|
| Normal | Less than 5.7% |
| Prediabetes | 5.7% - 6.4% |
| Diabetes | 6.5% or more |
There are no clear symptoms of prediabetes. Prediabetes may go undetected until type 2 diabetes develops.
If health behavior changes are not made to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes, you could develop type 2 diabetes within five years.
Get physically active, maintain a healthy weight, and quit smoking. People with prediabetes who lose 5-7% of their weight and add 150 minutes of weekly exercise cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half. You can also enroll in a National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), a lifestyle change program, that gives you the support you need to make lasting health behavior changes!
The National DPP is a lifestyle change program that helps you make lasting changes proven to cut your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half. It includes a CDC-approved curriculum, a lifestyle coach, and a support group of people with similar goals and challenges.
Get referred to the program by your healthcare provider or call a program for more details.
