Prediabetes can raise risk of diabetes by 70%

Prediabetes can be considered a warning sign by your body that your insulin levels are significantly rising or the insulin is not working properly at a cellular level often this is called “Insulin resistance” and is accompanied by abdominal obesity

New Delhi: Prediabetes is the most ‘overlooked’ health condition, which if not reversed in time can raise the risk of diabetes by 70 per cent, said experts on Wednesday.

Prediabetes is a serious condition that occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes.

The condition affects more than 130 million individuals in India and over 700 million people worldwide. Like diabetes, it can lead to life-threatening complications like a heart attack or brain stroke.

“Prediabetes puts you at a greater risk of developing diabetes. If both fasting and post-glucose levels are high, the risk is the highest. The level of HbA1c determines the risk for diabetes, with the five-year risk being 50 per cent if the HbA1c is more than 6 per cent, and 25 per cent if it is between 5.7 and 6 per cent,” Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare, said. The HbA1c test is used to evaluate a person's level of glucose control.

“The lifetime risk of developing diabetes if you have prediabetes is 70 per cent or greater,” he added.

Prediabetes can be considered a warning sign by your body that your insulin levels are significantly rising or the insulin is not working properly at a cellular level often this is called “Insulin resistance” and is accompanied by abdominal obesity.

Besides heart-related conditions, it can also lead to other complications like high blood pressure, kidney diseases, fatty liver disease, nerve damage, blood vessel damage, and even vision problems in some cases.

Dr Shashank Joshi, Endocrinologist, at Lilavati Hospital Mumbai, calls it “a wake-up call from your body that certain habits are damaging your blood vessels and can lead to complications like heart attack or brain stroke”.

“If left untreated, it can negatively impact your overall well-being. Even if you are not diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it can still cause serious health issues such as severe damage to the kidneys, heart, nerves, and blood vessels,” he said.

But can it be stopped in its tracks?

“Yes, it is possible to reverse or get remission of the onset of prediabetes by early detection and certain lifestyle adjustments,” said Dr Joshi.