Are You at Risk for Prediabetes?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 88 million Americans have prediabetes, a higher-than-normal blood sugar level that can easily lead to type 2 diabetes. That’s a staggering 1 in 3 people. Even more alarming, 84% don’t realize they have prediabetes.
If you fall into any of these categories, you may be at greater risk of developing prediabetes:
- Overweight/obese
- Inactive
- Over age 45
- African/American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Asian American
- Family history of type 2 diabetes (parents, siblings)
- You had diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
- Your baby weighed over 9 pounds when born
- You have polycystic ovary syndrome (female infertility)
Prediabetes develops when your pancreas has to overproduce the hormone insulin in order to get your cells to convert blood sugar (glucose) into energy. If your pancreas cannot keep up with this production, your blood sugar will increase, leading to type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes does not always have obvious symptoms. However, if you are experiencing any blurry vision, darkened areas of skin on your body, increased thirst, frequent urination, excess hunger or fatigue, you should see your doctor. It’s important to get this condition under control in the earliest stages so you can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, nerve damage and vision damage.
Take a Prediabetes Risk Test
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Diabetes Association have developed a prediabetes risk test that you can take online. Access the test by clicking here.
The primary care doctors at Westgate Family Physicians can diagnose prediabetes and type 2 diabetes by performing blood tests right on our office. We may recommend tests such as:
- A1C to measure the percentage of sugar attached to your hemoglobin
- Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to measure the sugar in your blood after fasting
- Random plasma glucose (RPG) to measure the sugar in your blood without fasting
- Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to test your blood sugar levels after fasting and after a sugary drink
If you are concerned about developing prediabetes or if you think you might be on the path toward this disease, please call our primary care physicians in Spartanburg at (864) 574-0070 or click here to schedule an appointment.