I think you either type 2 diabetes or not do! Sort of true, but like so many ongoing health issues, type 2 diabetes usually develops slowly over many years. The American diabetes Association (ADA) defines prediabetes as having blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to meet the criteria for high blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. Clinically Prediabetes can be detected by any of the following blood tests:

1. Sugars Fasting plasma: This is a test laboratory which determines the level of sugar in your blood after 6 hours of fasting. A value less than 100 mg/dL (5.5mmol/L) is a normal blood sugar level (BSL). A blood sugar range 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 6.9mmol/L) means that you are encountering the prediabetic State. A BSL above 126 mg/dL (7mmol/L) means that you have diabetes.

2. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): for the oral glucose tolerance test, you will be prompted to go to a fast. This test includes a series of glucose measurements performed in a laboratory after drink a sweet liquid drink containing glucose. After 2 hours, if the count is 140 to 200 mg/dL (7.8 to 11mmol/L), it means that your body cannot handle efficiently your sugar and is prediabetic. If the test result is higher than 200 mg/dL means that you have type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular problems. In fact, according to the ADA, this may increase your risk for heart problems and stroke by 1.5.

What are the indications for prediabetic screening?

(1) overweight and obesity: overweight or obese are some of the most important risk factors that largely predispose anyone developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. In accordance with the ADA, if you happen to be weighed on a high scale weight/height for age and you are already 45 years old or older, the best recommendation is for you to visit your doctor to undergo screening for type 2 diabetes. But if it is less than 45 and are obese, why not visit your doctor and have your blood sugar level is checked anyway?

2. diabetes pregnancy: if you’re a female had diabetes and pregnancy, or high blood sugar during pregnancy, it is better for you to visit your doctor so that he can organize blood sugar tests for you. Or, if you happen to have large babies weighing 9 pounds or more at birth, it can also be a sign that you need prediabetic/diabetic screening.

(3) a strong family history of diabetes: tend to develop type 2 diabetes usually runs in families. If your mother or father, aunt, or uncle your grandmother or grandfather, or even your siblings suffering from diabetes, chances are you also a tendency to develop it. An annual screening blood sugar would be a good idea to keep an audit of your layers.

4. High triglyceride levels and cholesterol: most diabetics have high levels of triglycerides and cholesterol. These results might offer you either prediabetes or type 2 … having your blood sugar tested annually worth doing to ensure you don’t increase your risk for further cardiovascular diseases.