Some 16 million people are estimated to have the condition called "pre-diabetes." Two million of this group will develop type 2 diabetes, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.
"Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have pre-diabetes, in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes," the LSU AgCenter nutritionist says.
Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already occur during pre-diabetes. Other studies have shown that if you take action to control your blood glucose when you have pre-diabetes, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from developing. Most people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes in 10 years, according to Reames.
The American Diabetes Association has published "The Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes," a position statement to help guide health care professionals in treating patients with pre-diabetes.
"There’s a lot you can do yourself to know your risks for pre-diabetes and to take action to prevent diabetes if you have, or are at risk for, pre-diabetes," Reames says, noting that there are two different tests your doctor can use to determine whether you have pre-diabetes. One is the fasting plasma glucose test (FPG). The other is the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The blood glucose levels measured after these tests determine whether you have a normal metabolism or whether you have pre-diabetes or diabetes.
If your blood glucose level is abnormal following the FPG, you have impaired fasting glucose (IFG). If your blood glucose level is abnormal following the OGTT, you have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).
"Pre-diabetes is a serious medical condition that can be treated," Reames says, adding, "The good news is that a Diabetes Prevention Program study conclusively showed that people with pre-diabetes can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diets and increasing their levels of physical activity."
The nutritionist remarks, "They may even be able to return their blood glucose levels to the normal range!"
Although the DPP also showed that some medications might delay the development of diabetes, diet and exercise worked better. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a 5 percent to 10 percent reduction in body weight, produced a 58 percent reduction in diabetes.
"If you have pre-diabetes, you can and should do something about it," Reames emphasizes, noting that the American Diabetes Association’s expert panel recommends that people with pre-diabetes reduce their weight by 5 percent to 10 percent and participate in some type of modest physical activity for 30 minutes daily.
"The LSU AgCenter’s Diabetes Education Awareness Recommendations Program provides information on eating healthfully to help control blood glucose levels," Reames says, explaining, "The eating plan, based on the Food Guide Pyramid, also will help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes."
The nutritionist continues, "The AgCenter’s Portions Healthy Weight Program provides information on healthful eating, physical activity recommendations and lifestyle habits to achieve and maintain a healthy weight."