About Prediabetes & Prevention
What is Prediabetes?
Pre-diabetes or Borderline Diabetes, Impaired Glucose Tolerance, and/or Impaired Fasting Glucose is a condition in which blood glucose levels are above normal but are not as high as diabetes. Pre-diabetes starts at this point with the first signs of insulin resistance. Obesity, family history of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and certain ethnic groups are all risk factors for developing prediabetes. Prediabetes typically has no signs or symptoms. Learn whether you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, visit Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test
Prediabetes can be diagnosed. Screening for prediabetes should begin at age 30 to 45. It has been found that lifestyle modification provides the greatest benefit in preventing the progression to type 2 diabetes. There is currently no cure for type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes Prevention and or Delay of the progression to type 2 diabetes is essential.
An estimated 54 million people in the United States have prediabetes.
One in four Minnesotans has diabetes or prediabetes.
How can diabetes be prevented?
An individual with prediabetes can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes by making simple lifestyle changes. Diet and moderate exercise alone are effective enough to bring blood sugar levels back down to a healthy range.
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a national, 27-center, randomized clinical trial, showed that a 16-week lifestyle behavior change program can help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes in high risk patients if they reach a moderate (7%) weight loss goal and increase their physical activity.
- Diabetes Prevention Program Fact Sheet 131 kb PDF
- Diabetes Prevention Program Study Documents Repository
The I CAN Prevent Diabetes Program is based on the DPP and adapted by Plan Forward at the Indiana University Diabetes Translation Research Center for work with the YMCA.