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Could You have Pre-Diabetes?
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In April,
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new information
stating that many more Americans than previously thought have a condition called
“pre-diabetes.” Previously, it was thought that 20 million Americans had the
condition. Now, new criteria have been developed that indicate that probably
about 40 million people have it. This is important news for the general
population at large.
Many people who have
pre-diabetes develop full-blown diabetes within 10 years. Pre-diabetes is marked
by blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic
range.
Under the new
criteria, people are considered prediabetic if they:
- Have
a sugar level of 100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) of blood after
a midnight fast and/or
- Have
a sugar level of 140 to 199 mg/dl after eating a high-glucose food
If you’re 45 or
older, ask your doctor to test your blood for pre-diabetes at your next
appointment. If you’re under 45 but have other diabetes risk factors, such as
being overweight, having a sedentary lifestyle, having had a baby 9 pounds or
more at birth, or being a member of an ethnic minority group, it’s a good idea
to have your blood tested too.
Source:
United States Department
of Health and Human Services.
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