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What is Pre Diabetes?

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Posted 3/15/2007 9:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,  I am curious as to what a pre diabetic is?  What qualifies you for that?  I am curious, inquiring minds want to know.  tongue    Take Care, Donna
Posted 3/15/2007 11:31 AM (GMT 0)

Good morning, Donna!  I can only tell you about myself and being so-called "pre-diabetic".  Back in the fall when again my fasting came back 115, the doctor had me get a monitor and set me up with the diabetes diet and everything.  For the last 5 years, my fasting during my annual physicals were between 109 and 119.  Finally, she said I'm pre-diabetic.  Since my mom and my grandmother had diabetes, I am probably predestined?  My A1c came back 6.7, too.  I wonder if it's really the doctor's discretion though.  If she had been more agressive years ago, I would have started on changing my diet and losing more weight at that time.  Knowing what I know now, I wish I had made these changes years ago.  In any case, that's why she said I was pre-diabetic.

Have a good day, Lanie

Posted 3/15/2007 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Donna,
Pre-Diabetes basically means that you are a prime candidate for lifestyle changes that'll drastically reduce your chances of developing full-on Diabetes. It means that your blood glucose levels are showing signs of struggling to metabolize the sugars and/or insulin production in your body but, haven't reached a critical point yet; you can still change that situation. It means you are a prime candidate for 'prevention therapy' (read: diet and exercise), in order to prevent the eventual diagnosis of Diabetes if you don't. For the "lucky" ones to have a wake-up call in the "pre" stages of Diabetes, it means that you have the opportunity to get a balanced lifestyle going and possibly never progress onto to Diabetes and all that comes with it.

What qualifies you for it? The guidelines differ place to place and have been changing a lot recently, due to trying to catch more folks at the "pre" stage. A non-Diabetic will always have blood sugars (when tested on a monitor, say), between 4-7 (72-126), regardless of time of day or food eaten. Someone with a struggling metabolism would see numbers outside those parameters at various times of the day. A "fasting" blood test done at a lab (HBA1C), should be below 6.7% (used to be 7% but as I say, they keep lowering the guidelines because at 7% there are already indications that it is too high to catch the "pre" Diabetics). An A1C over 6% but under 7%, usually put you in the "pre" category.

Hope this helps. Take care.
Posted 3/15/2007 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Really? I thought if one was pre-diabetic a full blow diagnosis was inevitable? Are there studies that prove a CONSISTENT lifestyle change will keep the disease at bay forever? I thought there was usually an 8-10 yr. "grace period" when one could fight it off. I thought all eventually turned into "real" diabetics.
Posted 3/15/2007 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ruth,
Can't point to any specific studies at the moment but, from what I understand from reading many message posts and other Diabetes-related info... a balanced and healthy lifestyle goes a long way in reducing, significantly postponing or, in some cases, eliminating the need for medications (Type2).

Since we all vary in so many ways, I think it impossible to really put an ETA on when you can expect the shoe to drop (so to speak), but I do believe that a consistently healthy lifestyle (maintaining good glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure), can see you well into old age in a much better state than your "average" individual. Just my opinion :-)
Posted 3/16/2007 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Well ... I'll tell you. That sure is my goal ... to put off meds for as long as possible. And to gracefully accept what I may no longer be able to fight if/when that happens!

I WILL say ... I haven't been sick all winter and I've never taken better care of myself in my life! If nothing else, I've proven to me that diet/exercise really DOES matter. To more than just my pancreas!
Posted 3/16/2007 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Donna,

My doctor told me that I was pre-diabetic because my fasting glucose was 116.  He did say that if I didn't lose weight I could end up being a diabetic in 10 years.   I am not fat, but curvy and muscular since I have always worked out at the gym.. It does run in my family so what I did is to tighten up my diet, which was already pretty good but not perfect and uped my exercise program..I have always exercised but now I do cardio every day at least 30min with two sessions of weight training a week.   I saw a dietician, got books on preventing diabetes...there are lots of good books with excellent information on Pre-Diabetes.   I am losing weight slowly but surely and I hope I can prevent myself from getting diabetes. All we can do is try to work at it on a daily basis and accept whatever comes in the future.  Stay positive and move on with our lives.

My mom had it but and she lived to be 87 years old.  She got it when she got older like in her 60's.  She led a full life and was healthy until the end of her life.  She took good care of herself but still enjoyed everything life had to offer.  yeah

I love all the info on this site..

Good luck to everyone.  Keep the faith :-)

Tex-Mex Girl

Posted 3/17/2007 5:16 PM (GMT 0)

Phishbowl, 

A non-Diabetic will always have blood sugars (when tested on a monitor, say), between 4-7 (72-126), regardless of time of day or food eaten

 

This was very instructive, and answered  a question I had.  I often have those numbers, however, I also have higher numbers at times, so guess that makes me officially diabetic, like the doctor said.  It was mentioned I may be prediabetic, because I do have good numbers quite a bit of the time and my AIC was at the diagnosis I think 7 but it may have been in the sixes.  It has remained in the six's and lower for the last three years.  I did have it in the 5's or high 4's when I was exercising on treadmill regular.  It went up to 6.9, then my last one I got down to 6.1 and I told doctor I will  have it in the fives the next AIC (real Bravado on my part! LOL) OK off to the movie today.  Have a great day everyone.  Donna

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