Pre-diabetes could signal that you are on the way to getting diabetes in the future. When left untreated, diabetes can become serious and even fatal. This is why it’s important to determine if you have pre-diabetes, so you can begin managing it and improving your overall wellness. But first, you should find out what this condition is and what the typical symptoms are, so you'll know when you should talk to your doctor. 

What is Pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes is scientifically referred to as “glucose intolerance,” since it’s not yet diabetes. Basically, if someone takes a blood test and ends up with a blood sugar level above 126, he or she is usually diagnosed with diabetes. However, if the blood sugar level is between 100 and 126, he or she is considered to be glucose intolerant, or pre-diabetic.  

Risk Factors for Developing Pre-diabetes

For people with type 2 diabetes, the main risk factor is having family members with this condition, since it’s genetic. Other risk factors include being overweight, over the age of 45 and inactive. People who develop type 2 diabetes begin as glucose intolerant. You should note that type 1 diabetes is not related to either glucose intolerance or pre-diabetes. 

Symptoms of Pre-diabetes

Commonly most people with glucose intolerance have NO symptoms. Over time as their blood sugars rise, primarily after a meal, they began to feel gradually more fatigued. This lack of energy will become more pervasive throughout the day once the blood sugar stays consistently elevated then other changes begin to occur: such as irritability, always feeling hungry, unexplained weight loss, and reccurrent infections such as urinary tract infections or poor healing of wounds.  

What to do if you are Experiencing Pre-diabetes Symptoms?

If you have any of these symptoms of pre-diabetes, you should research your family history to find out if any close relatives have diabetes. This is especially important if you have gradual weight loss paired with extreme thirst and hunger, since it’s uncommon for people to lose weight when they are thirstier and hungrier than usual. Even if you can't find evidence of diabetes in your immediate family, you should talk to your doctor about testing your blood sugar if you have these symptoms, so that you can get diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

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