In pre-diabetes, the body does not respond properly to insulin, the hormone that helps to control levels of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. As a result, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes.
Pre-diabetes has no symptoms or warning signs and may develop into type 2 diabetes within 5-10 years if not treated. It also increases your risk of heart disease.
Who is at risk?
You are at risk of pre-diabetes if you:
- Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
- Are over 55 years of age
- Have a waist measurement of 80 cm or more (women) and 94 cm or more (men)
- Do little or no physical activity
- Are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background
- Are of Chinese, Pacific Islander or Indian sub-continent background.
Women who have had gestational diabetes or have polycystic ovarian syndrome are also at increased risk of developing pre-diabetes.
If you believe you are at risk, speak to your doctor as soon as possible about having your blood glucose level checked. Early diagnosis of pre-diabetes increases the likelihood that you will be able to prevent or delay developing type 2 diabetes.
You should also make some lifestyle changes-try to lose some weight, increase your level of physical activity and adopt a healthy eating plan. Make sure you discuss these changes with your doctor and check whether you need to take any special precautions when altering your level of physical activity.
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