Prediabetes is a condition in which a person’s blood sugar is chronically elevated, though not so high as to indicate full-blown diabetes. It means that a combination of risk factors is leading you down the path toward type 2 diabetes and all the negative health consequences that entails. By some estimates, type 2 diabetes can shave 10 years off of your life.
The good news is that prediabetes is reversible. The sooner you recognize the problem, the sooner you can turn around some of the risk factors for the disease, such as being overweight or obese, living a sedentary lifestyle, and consuming too much added sugar. There is also a genetic component that you can’t change, but you can still protect yourself by paying strict attention to a healthy diet and exercise regime.
Your doctor should already be testing your blood glucose at your regular checkups, but how can you tell if you are prediabetic throughout the year?
There are some subtle symptoms that together could spell trouble. Some, like #3 and #4, are sneaky and may not appear to be related to prediabetes even though they are. Read on to get proactive about the risk posed by prediabetes.