Prediabetes is a Serious Health Condition That Affects Millions of Americans
People with blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, are considered to have prediabetes. In the U.S., nearly 98 million adults in have prediabetes, but 80% of them don’t know they have it. Risk factors include being over the age of 45, having a family history of diabetes, being overweight, and not being physically active.
Without active intervention through lifestyle change, including changes to exercise and nutrition, prediabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can result in dangerous complications, including kidney damage, nerve damage, amputations, blindness, heart disease, and stroke. Early intervention is the first step on a path to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.