Learning more about prediabetes, including risk factors and symptoms, is a smart first step in protecting your health.

More than 1 in 3 Americans has prediabetes, which means their blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are too high.^[1] This precursor to Type 2 diabetes doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms.^[2] Your health or the health of someone you love may be in jeopardy for years—and you might not know it.^[3] Taking preventive measures now can help to prevent a future diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.^[4]

What is prediabetes?

A diagnosis of prediabetes means blood glucose levels are higher than they should be, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis.^[5]  If you don’t act, blood glucose levels may continue to rise, which could lead to Type 2 diabetes in the future.^[6]

What causes prediabetes?

Prediabetes occurs when there’s a problem with how your body makes or uses insulin.^[7] Your pancreas makes insulin, a hormone that helps move glucose into blood cells for energy.^[8] You get glucose, a type of sugar that gives you energy, from foods and drinks.^[9]

When you have prediabetes, cells don’t respond to insulin as they should. As a result, your pancreas increases insulin production to try and get the cells to respond. When the pancreas can’t keep insulin production up, blood glucose levels rise.

Prediabetes may be due to:

• Insulin resistance:^[10] Insulin resistance means your body can’t effectively use insulin. Your blood glucose levels rise because cells in your liver, muscle, and fat can’t move the glucose out of your blood.
• Pancreas issues:^[11] Sometimes, cells in the pancreas that make insulin (called beta cells) can’t make enough insulin. When your body doesn’t have enough insulin, excess glucose stays in your blood instead of entering your liver, muscles, and fatty tissue.

Risk factors for prediabetes

Certain genetic factors and health conditions can increase your risk of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Inactive (sedentary) people older than 45 who have obesity or excess weight are most at risk.^[12]

Other prediabetes risk factors include:^[13]

• High blood pressure or high cholesterol
• History of heart attack, stroke, or gestational diabetes
• Hormonal disorders, such as Cushing’s syndrome
• Long-term use of steroids
• Metabolic syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Parent or sibling with diabetes
• Sleep apnea

These races and ethnicities are also more at risk:^[14]

• Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Black Americans
• Hispanic and Latino Americans
• Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians

Prediabetes symptoms

You can’t always tell when your blood glucose levels are too high.^[15] In fact, 80% of Americans don’t know they have prediabetes because they don’t have symptoms.^[16]

When symptoms of prediabetes occur, you might have:^[17]

• Darker skin on your back, neck, or armpits (acanthosis nigricans)
• Skin tags (growths) on your neck, back, or armpits
• Vision changes

Diagnosing prediabetes

Health care providers use blood tests to detect high blood glucose levels that may indicate prediabetes or diabetes. These blood tests include:

A1C test^[18]

An A1C test provides an average blood glucose level over a period of 2 to 3 months. The test results may show:

• Normal result: An A1C below 5.6% means you don’t have prediabetes or diabetes.
• Prediabetes: An A1C between 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes.
• Diabetes: An A1C of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes.

Fasting blood glucose test^[19]

A fasting blood glucose test measures glucose levels in your blood after you haven’t had anything to eat or drink (fasted) for at least 8 hours.

The test results may show:

• Normal result: A glucose level of 99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) means you don’t have prediabetes or diabetes.
• Prediabetes: A glucose level between 100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL indicates prediabetes.
• Diabetes: A glucose level above 126 mg/dL indicates diabetes.

How to reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes

A diagnosis of prediabetes means you have a 50-50 chance of developing Type 2 diabetes within the next 5 to 10 years.^[20]

You can tip the odds in your favor by taking these steps to help reverse prediabetes:

• Be physically active for at least 150 minutes a week. One way to move more is by taking a brisk 30-minute walk, 5 days a week.^[21]
• Find healthy ways to manage stress and improve sleep.^[22]
• Make small dietary changes to lose 5% to 7% of your body weight, if you’re overweight.^[23] That’s 10 to 14 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds.

In summary: Prediabetes doesn’t have to lead to diabetes

Knowing whether you’re at risk for prediabetes, as well as how to make changes to help reverse the condition, are important steps to reducing your risk of developing  Type 2 diabetes. You can tap the expertise of your health care team, including your doctor, pharmacist, and dietitian, to learn how to make dietary and lifestyle changes that can help protect your health.

Now that you know more about prediabetes, you may be curious about how to make smart shopping choices. The Sincerely Health nutrition tools in the app can help.

You can start by downloading the grocery app. You’ll save $10* on groceries for creating an account. Next, create a personalized Sincerely Health nutrition profile to receive 1,000 points.

Your nutrition profile allows you to:

• Set specific nutrition goals.
• Earn 10 points for each item you purchase for a maximum 100 points per order (that’s 10 items at 10 points each).

Sign up for Sincerely Health and create a nutrition profile to help prevent prediabetes today!

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FAQs

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes occurs when blood cells aren’t responding to insulin normally. Your pancreas tries to get the cells to respond by increasing insulin production. Eventually, the pancreas can’t keep up with insulin production, so there’s a rise in blood glucose levels.

Does prediabetes lead to diabetes?

Not necessarily. Prediabetes increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. But you can take steps to prevent diabetes from happening.

Are you at risk for prediabetes?

Inactive people older than 45 who have obesity or excess weight are most at risk for developing prediabetes. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of diabetes.

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[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prediabetes: Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention-type-2/prediabetes-prevent-type-2.html

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prediabetes: Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention-type-2/prediabetes-prevent-type-2.html

[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prediabetes: Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention-type-2/prediabetes-prevent-type-2.html

[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Surprising Truth About Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention-type-2/truth-about-prediabetes.html

[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prediabetes: Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention-type-2/prediabetes-prevent-type-2.html

[6] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 2018. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance

[7] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 2018. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance

[8] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 2018. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance

[9] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 2018. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance

[10] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 2018. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance; MedlinePlus. Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 5, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/prediabetes.html

[11] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 2018. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance; MedlinePlus. Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 5, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/prediabetes.html

[12] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 2018. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diabetes Risk Factors. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/risk-factors/index.html 

[13] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 2018. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diabetes Risk Factors. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/risk-factors/index.html 

[14] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 2018. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diabetes Risk Factors. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/risk-factors/index.html 

[15] Cleveland Clinic. Prediabetes. Last reviewed November 8, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21498-prediabetes

[16] Cleveland Clinic. Prediabetes. Last reviewed November 8, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21498-prediabetes

[17] Cleveland Clinic. Prediabetes. Last reviewed November 8, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21498-prediabetes; MedlinePlus. Prediabetes. Last reviewed May 5, 2021. https://medlineplus.gov/prediabetes.html

[18] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing for Diabetes. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/diabetes-testing/index.html; Cleveland Clinic. Blood Glucose (Sugar) Test. Last reviewed November 16, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/12363-blood-glucose-test 

[19] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing for Diabetes. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/diabetes-testing/index.html; Cleveland Clinic. Blood Glucose (Sugar) Test. Last reviewed November 16, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/12363-blood-glucose-test 

[20] Cleveland Clinic. Blood Glucose (Sugar) Test. Last reviewed November 16, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/12363-blood-glucose-test 

[21] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prediabetes: Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention-type-2/prediabetes-prevent-type-2.html

[22] Cleveland Clinic. How to Reverse Prediabetes. Last reviewed September 13, 2022. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-reverse-prediabetes

[23] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prediabetes: Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention-type-2/prediabetes-prevent-type-2.html

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