Prediabetes
A person with prediabetes has a blood sugar level higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. He or she is at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems, including heart disease, and stroke. Without lifestyle changes to improve their health, 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years.
A person with certain risk factors is more likely to develop prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. These risk factors include: age, especially after 45 years of age; being overweight or obese; a family history of diabetes; having an African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander racial or ethnic background; a history of diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or having given birth to a baby weighing nine pounds or more; and being physically active less than three times a week.
Could you have prediabetes? Take the quiz and find out if you are
at risk. Click on the prediabetes test widget on the right hand side
of this page and answer the seven questions to get your prediabetes
score.
If you do have prediabetes, research shows that doing just two things can help you prevent or delay type 2 diabetes: Lose 5% to 7% of your body weight, which would be 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person; and get at least 150 minutes each week of physical activity, such as brisk walking.
National Diabetes Prevention Program: A way to
prevent diabetes
Lifestyle change programs offered through the
National Diabetes
Prevention Program, which is led by CDC, can help
you reach these goals. Trained lifestyle coaches lead
classes to help participants improve their food choices,
increase physical activity, and learn coping skills to
maintain weight loss and healthy lifestyle changes.
Visit CDC’s online registry of recognized organizations to find out if there is a lifestyle class being offered at this time in your community. If you don’t find a CDC-recognized program in your area, a local YMCA may offer a similar program. Visit the Y program Web site for information about more local programs. In addition, maybe you know of a local organization—gym, faith-based organization, health care facility, or other—that would be a good host for the classes. Please share this information with them.
Additional Resources
- Diabetes home page on the CDC.gov Web site
- Your Game Plan page on the National Diabetes Education Program Web site (CDC and National Institutes of Health)
- Prediabetes FAQs on the Diabetes Basics Web page (American Diabetes Association)
- Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes page on the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse Web site (National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Contact Us:
- CDC Diabetes Public Inquiries
- 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
8am-8pm ET
Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
