Should I be Concerned about Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a common condition, occurring in 1 out of every 3 adults. Because prediabetes often has no symptoms or warning signs, most people are not aware they have this condition.

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are above normal, but below the range for having type 2 diabetes. If you have prediabetes, it means that your body is not able to properly process sugar from the foods you eat. This could be due to a shortage of insulin from your pancreas or that your body is not using that insulin properly.

Who is at risk?

Prediabetes is more common in adults who are overweight, 45 years of age or older, and are not physically active. Other risk factors include those who are African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander American. Prediabetes is also common in those who have:

• a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
• health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and have had diabetes during a pregnancy
• a history of heart disease or stroke
• a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome
• a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome

How do I know if I have prediabetes?

Your doctor may order a blood test to determine if you fall into the range for prediabetes.

Who should be tested?

Adults who are 45 years of age or older should be tested. Those individuals who are who are overweight, obese, or of African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander American background should begin testing earlier - at 35 years of age. If the results of your blood test are normal, you should still be tested every 3 years or as often as recommended by your healthcare provider.

Related questions

• How long does metformin take to work?
• When is the best time to take metformin?
• What is the safest diabetes medication?

What are complications of prediabetes?

Over time, prediabetes may lead to a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. This can increase your risk of heart disease, eye problems, high blood pressure, nerve problems, stroke, kidney disease and other blood vessel complications. Diabetes can be managed with medications and diet, but it is best if the onset of this condition can be delayed or prevented.

What can I do if I have prediabetes?

Lifestyle changes may help to delay or prevent progression to type 2 diabetes in many people. These changes include weight loss (about 7% of body weight) and at least 150 minutes of regular exercise weekly. For those that smoke, quitting will also improve your health.

The types of dietary changes suggested are a low-carbohydrate diet, consuming low sodium levels less than 1500 mg per day, limiting alcohol to one drink (or less) per day, and cutting out added sugar and unhealthy fats. You may find a dietitian or lifestyle program to be helpful to make these changes.

In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a medication such as metformin to help reduce your blood sugar levels.

Summary

Because prediabetes often doesn't have noticeable symptoms, it is important to have a blood test to check your blood sugar levels. If you have blood sugar levels above the normal range, it is important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions for making lifestyle and other changes necessary to reduce the risk of complications from diabetes.

See also:

Related medical questions

• What is A1C? Normal vs dangerous levels, and how to lower It
• Does metformin cause weight loss?
• Is Ozempic better than metformin?
• What are the symptoms of lactic acidosis caused by metformin?
• Does metformin cause hypoglycemia?
• Why does Metformin smell like fish?
• How does metformin work?
• How long does glucophage/Metformin stay in your system?
• Is Invokana the same as metformin?
• Can Diabetes go away with diet and exercise?
• What are the ingredient drugs contained in Qternmet XR?
• Toujeo vs Lantus - What's the difference between them?
• How and where should I inject insulin?
• Can Trulicity be used with insulin?
• Is Trulicity a form of insulin?
• What are the different types of insulin?
• When does insulin lispro peak / how long does it last?
• What type of insulin is Humalog?
• Is Toujeo a fast or long-acting insulin?
• What is insulin icodec?
• How fast does insulin lispro work?
• Is Admelog fast-acting insulin?
• Levemir vs Lantus: What's the difference?
• What is the difference between regular insulin and lispro (Humalog)?
• Humalog vs Novolog (Novalog): What's the difference?
• Are Humulin and Humalog the same thing?
• Are glucagon and glycogen the same thing?
• Toujeo vs Tresiba - What's the difference between them?
• Is there a list of drugs that require cold storage?
• Humulin N vs Humulin R - What's the difference?

Drug information

• Metformin 655 reviews

Related support groups

• Metformin (199 questions, 728 members)
• Insulin (88 questions, 223 members)
• Diabetes, Type 2 (502 questions, 1,428 members)
• High Blood Pressure (497 questions, 1,626 members)
• Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) (848 questions, 1,510 members)
• Ischemic Stroke (55 questions, 187 members)
• High Cholesterol (103 questions, 268 members)

AHFS® Patient Medication Information is used with permission. ©2025, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. (ASHP). The ASHP Data is a part of the AHFS Drug Information®️; ASHP is not responsible for the accuracy of transpositions from the original context.