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Author:
Karen Newton

Prediabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar levels of the body are elevated over a period of time and within a specific range. This condition may be associated with the development of Type 2 diabetes, however ongoing research tends to indicate that there are a lot of strategies that someone with prediabetes can use to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes can also increase the risk factors for the individual for cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. The condition may also lead to complications with vision and kidney function as the individual ages.

Determining prediabetes factors

Prediabetes factors are measured by your IFG or impaired fasting glucose score and/or the impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Some individuals may have both IFG and IGT at the same time.

IFG is measured by fasting overnight and then taking the blood glucose test. Individuals with 100-125 milligrams per deciliter are considered to be in the prediabetes range. Approximately 33.8% of the American population age 40-74 will have IFG.

IGT is an oral glucose test that gives a reading of 140-199 milligrams per deciliter after a 2-hour period. Out of the same population of 40-74 year olds 15.4% will have IGT, and 40.1% will have prediabetes.

Can it be controlled?

The good news is that research shows that some lifestyle changes can have a big impact on these factors, and can delay or even prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes. In the Diabetes Prevention program individuals that walked or moderately exercised for 2 _ hours per week, watched what they ate and stayed on any prescribed medication were able to reduce the rate of diabetes by 58% over 3 years. These individuals were all at high risk for prediabetes prior to entering the study.

In addition there are several medications including metformin, and acarbose significantly reduced the rate of type 2 diabetes. The studies showed that the medications were most effective if the participant was between 25-40 years of age and was heavier (60-80 pounds overweight) at the start of the study. Some improvement was also noted in older or less overweight individuals but it was not as marked.

Type 1 diabetes currently has no known methods of prevention. Ongoing studies are attempting to locate the factors that indicate the onset of type 1 diabetes in an effort to be able to introduce prevention programs.

Diagnosis

As with all components of diabetes the key to understanding and managing prediabetes is to get the correct diagnosis as quickly as possible. Blood glucose tests should be done if there is a history of diabetes or heart attack or stroke in your family. It is important to also follow through on any recommendations that the doctor may make for further testing. Early diagnosis of prediabetes can allow the physician and the patient to begin to address the issues of weight management, exercise and diet and can lead to the delay or even the prevention of the onset of type 2 diabetes.

About the Author :

Karen Newton is a registered nurse and acclaimed author with over 25 years of health care experience. Her newest book, Diabetic Diet Secrets, is an easy to follow guide to losing weight and getting control of your diabetes. Karen offers a free Diabetic Tips Course at http://www.diabeticdietsecrets.com/diabetictips.htm.


Article Source: www.iSnare.com

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Diabetes... Type 1 Diabetes Treatments Type 1 diabetes is a condition that typically affects individuals under the age of 40. Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes does not have a specific known cause. Typically, the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes occurs around the age of 14, although it is certainly capable of affecting younger children. If you or your child has been diagnosed with this disease, know the options for type 1 diabetes treatments in order to ensure that he or she is getting the best care possible. Furthermore, since type 1 diabetes is typically considered more serious than type 2 diabetes, it is important that everyone around the patient is informed of the correct actions to take should problems or complications occur with his or her condition. What Causes Type 1 Diabetes? Currently, there is no specific known cause that is thought to trigger type 1 diabetes in individuals. It is believed that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, where the body begins to attack itself, however the reason or the cause is still unknown. Many individuals suffering from type 1 diabetes found the condition followed a previous infection, including polio, mumps, and the Epstein-Barr virus. Again, there is speculation of this connection, but no concrete evidence has been found at this time to support this theory. Type 1 Diabetes Treatments Unlike other types of diabetes that can be controlled using eating schedules and dietary changes, type 1 diabetes must be controlled with insulin shots. Furthermore, the blood sugars must be monitored on a regular basis so that any spikes or drops in the concentration of the sugar in the blood can be immediately identified. Insulin is injected on a daily basis into fatty cells under the skin. Using the manner of injection, the body can immediately absorb the...