Prediabetes

What Happens

Being diagnosed with prediabetes is a warning sign that you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Each year about 4% to 9% of people with prediabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes.¹ Although you may still be healthy, moderate and persistent elevated blood sugar levels greatly increase your risk for getting diabetes and heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. Compared to people with normal blood sugar levels, people with prediabetes have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.²

If you have been diagnosed with prediabetes, you are also at higher risk for eye, nerve, and kidney disease. For more information on these complications, see the topic Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Complications.

You can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by doing all of the following:

• Limit the amount of fat you eat.
• Limit the calories you eat.
• Limit and spread carbohydrate throughout the day.
• Limit sweets.
• Lose weight.
• Get regular exercise.

These healthy habits can also lower your risk of complications. For more information, see the Treatment Overview section of this topic.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: August 23, 2006
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Jennifer Hone, MD - Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
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