Somebody that has borderline diabetes, or rather prediabetes, have levels of blood sugar that seem higher than the usual level but not adequately high to lead to the diagnosis of diabetes of the type 2.
Borderline diabetes is a condition that can possibly cause diabetes of the type 2. Due to a research done by the American Diabetes Association, roughly about 10 -23 % of individuals who have borderline diabetes will grow further to diabetes of the type 2 within a period of 5 years.
Typically, doctors also refer to borderline diabetes as:
- A resistance to insulin
- Tolerance to impaired glucose
- A fasting glucose that is impaired.
This editorial examines the method of recognizing the causative factors of prediabetes, how the condition should be managed, and the method of preventing the diabetes of the type 2 from developing.
Symptoms of prediabetes
There are no known symptoms of prediabetes. Some persons might be oblivious of the fact that they are living with it until:
- You get a test of your level of blood pressure as well as the blood glucose
- Prediabetes has fully advanced into diabetes of the type 2
- There is a complication like them having heart attacks.
If someone’s level of blood sugar remains at a high level, they may start having signs of diabetes of the type 2. Signs of the disease include urinating frequently as well as increased thirst.
A lot of people are unaware that they are living with prediabetes until they have been tested.
Risk Factors as well as causes of prediabetes
As stated by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a broad range of other circumstances can enhance the chances of prediabetes, like:
- Obesity particularly the abdominal type of obesity
- A blood pressure that is high
- High levels of fat in the blood or triglycerides
- Having the pleasant high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in low levels.
Other probable causative factors are:
- Inadequate exercise
- Having diabetes of the type 2 in your family history.
Due to the American Heart Association, these lifestyle circumstances can possibly cause prediabetes in a number of people:
- Elevated levels of stress.
- Smoking
- An intake of excess alcohol.
- Frequent consumption of drinks that have a high content of sugar can also enhance the risk.
A review from 2017 discovered that individuals who frequently consume sugary beverages stand the chance of getting metabolic diseases like a blood pressure that is high as well as levels of blood fats and glucose that are high.
These metabolic circumstances of the body can possibly cause prediabetes and subsequently diabetes.
Individuals who have inactive lifestyles have a higher chance of consuming a high amount of calories without having to burn them through exercises.
Various other people that have a higher chance of getting prediabetes are people who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as well as people who have formerly gone through situations of blood sugar levels that are high.
Anybody who have any one of the mentioned risk factors might be helped from a screening for prediabetes to check if they are living with the condition.
Diagnosis
Usually, a doctor does the diagnosis of prediabetes by carrying out a blood test, especially a test on the glucose tolerance of the blood. This test of glucose tolerance does a measurement of how fast the body handles the amount of blood sugar within a duration of 2 hours.
Various other tests include a measurement of levels of the sugar in the blood during the time of abstinence from food of the individual for a designated time period. This is referred to as the fasting type of blood test.
The doctor can also employ the use of a test known as A1C test. It involves a measurement of the normal levels of blood sugar over a period of 2 to 3 months. People have no reason to fast or to have any type of special fluids or medicines for the test, moreover it produces results that are reliable.
As stated by the American Diabetes Association, the doctor typically diagnoses prediabetes once the results of the test indicate the given measurements:
- Fasting sugar levels of the blood that range from 100-125 mg/dl.
- Levels of glucose tolerance that range from 140 – 199 mg/dl
- Having a test result for A1C ranging from 5.7 – 6.4%
Typically, the doctor does another test for the levels so as to verify that given readings are not because of a random spike in the blood sugar.
Monitors for checking the amount of glucose in the blood that can be used at home are readily available for purchase online.
Who should go for screening?
The NIDDK had recommended that individuals who have the risk factors listed below need to go for a screening on prediabetes:
- People who are 45 years old and over.
- Those who are overweight or obese or having a body mass index (BMI)that exceeds 25
- A circumference of the waist that exceeds, in males – 40 inches and in females – 35 inches.
- A close member of your family who has diabetes.
- A type of condition which increases a resistance to insulin, including PCOS, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and acanthosis nigricans.
- An ethnicity which puts the person at a higher chance of getting diabetes including persons that are Asian-American, African-American, Native American, Pacific Islander or a Latino.
- A past history of having gestational diabetes, or rather having diabetes due to pregnancy.
- Having recently delivered a baby with a weight in excess of 9 pounds.
- Presence of a disorder that makes the arteries harden up.
- Fresh treatment with the use of glucocorticoids or rather medications that are atypical antipsychotic.
If a physician detects any one of the above risk factors, they may have to recommend the person for a screening of their level of blood sugar.
Professionals in the medical field have advised that screening tests be repeated regularly at every 1 to 3 year cycle if it has been discovered that an individual is living with the aforementioned risk factors.
The NIDDK keeps an approved resource for the checking of the risk of diabetes. Click this place to take a test.
But, anybody that is concerned that they possibly may be living with borderline diabetes should pay their doctors a visit so as to take a test and an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment
Prediabetes is a disorder that is reversible; however, its prevention is usually easier than its treatment. Lifestyle circumstances are typically the major causative factors of prediabetes, furthermore changing some aspects of the individual’s life can drastically minimize the risk factors.
A diet which is balanced and nutritious that restrains the intake of sugar as well as participating in regular exercise typically helps in reversing borderline diabetes.
As stated by the American Diabetes Association, changes in nutrition and diet should contain subsequent items:
- Increasing the consumption carbohydrates with high-fiber that are unprocessed.
- Increasing an intake of vegetables and fruits
- Minimizing the consumption of processed meat as well as saturated fat.
Click this place to discover more on the food selections for people who are living with prediabetes.
It is important to exercise. As stated in a report of Diabetes Care, exercise typically helps in preventing or delays the development of diabetes.
Present guidelines made for American advocates that adults need to:
Participate in the least between 150 and 300 minutes of aerobic activity with a moderate intensity weekly.
Do exercises that strengthen the muscle at a minimum of two times in a week like doing regular push-ups or lifting of weights.
Instances of exercises that are moderate are taking a brisk walk and fast dancing.
Habitual exercises as well as a diet that is healthy not only minimizes the chances of getting a full blown diabetes but, additionally shielding the heart from subsequent diseases.
Prevention Program for diabetes.
The Prevention Program for Diabetes (DPP), a study that was carried out for a long period of time which aimed to detect steps that are practical for a reduction in the risk of diabetes as well as in the reversal of prediabetes.
People who participated in the Program for Lifestyle changes of the DPP set a goal to reduce the weight of their body by 7 percent as well as sustain this new body weight by dietary changes as well as physical activity. 3 years later, the program results showed that:
- There was a drop by 58% in the chances of having diabetes despite the gender or ethnicity of the person, in comparison to people who were given a placebo.
- There was a drop by 71% in the chances of people having diabetes of the type 2 among those who are over 60 years old.
Everyone that participated in the program were given motivational support that borders on effectual diet as well as exercise. They also attended classes that focused on “changes in lifestyle” throughout the duration of the entire study.
There is regular schedule of follow ups. 15 years later, individuals from the DPP Change Program for Lifestyles, had a continued delay in the commencement of diabetes in comparison to those who were given medications known as metformin or rather a placebo.
Anybody that developed diabetes in the course of the study were given additional medical attention. But, diet as well as exercise remained to be important in the management of symptoms as well as a reduction in the chances of complications.
Monitoring borderline diabetes.
As an inclusion to changes in lifestyle, the doctors might recommend several other procedures for the management of the risk factors of diabetes.
Medical form of management can include the treatment of associated conditions like heart diseases and obesity.
Similarly, managing prediabetes involves a persistent monitoring of causative risk factors as well as customary testing of the levels of the blood sugar.
An individual can possibly reverse the marginal diabetes, on condition that they are able to make as well as sustain the needed changes in their lifestyles.
Takeaway
Borderline diabetes is usually the stage right before diabetes of the type 2 develops. At this stage, resistance of the blood pressure, insulin and blood sugar could start getting to levels that are harmful.
There are no known symptoms of prediabetes, and most persons that are living with the condition will not be aware that they have it right until the time it develops into diabetes and it starts creating health problems that are severe.
Consequently, it is vital for people who have the chances of getting diabetes to get routine screening. Several risk factors comprise of waist and BMI sizes that are excess, being over 45 years old or several other cardiovascular type of diseases.
Prediabetes is usually reversible with the use of an exercise program that is sustained as well diet that is low in sugar and balanced.
