Gateway to diabetes: Halt now

Prediabetes is the state that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than that of normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Before people develop type 2 diabetes, people almost always have prediabetes.
Recent research shows that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during prediabetes. But the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes is not inevitable. With healthy lifestyle changes — such as eating healthy foods, including physical activity in your daily routine and maintaining a healthy weight — you may be able to bring your blood sugar level back to normal.
Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) refers to a condition in which the fasting blood glucose is elevated above what is considered normal levels but is not high enough to be classified as diabetes mellitus. It is considered a pre-diabetic state.
IFG sometimes progresses to type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is a 50 percent risk over 10 years of progressing to overt diabetes. A recent study cited the average time for progression as less than three years.
Fasting plasma glucose screening should begin at age 30-45 and be repeated at least every three years. Earlier and more frequent screening should be conducted in at-risk individuals.
Prediabetes is usually diagnosed with a blood test and called when fasting blood sugar (glucose) level of 110 to 125 mg/dL (6.1 mM to 6.9 mM) — according to WHO criteria.
Key points to prevention of delay the onset of type 2 diabetes:
-Healthy meals (low-fat, low-sugar, low-salt diet)
-Physical exercise (45 minutes of exercise per day, five days a week)
-Reducing weight by as little as 5-10 percent can have a significant impact on overall health.
For patients with severe risk factors, prescription medication may be appropriate. This can be considered in patients for whom lifestyle therapy has failed or is not sustainable and who are at high-risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

This write up is compiled by Dr Shahjada Selim who works at Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, BIRDEM Hospital.
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