 Pre-Diabetes vs. Diabetes
Here's a startling statistic: According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), of the 18.2 million people in the United States with diabetes, about 5.2 million of them don't know they have it. And the number of people with pre-diabetes (the condition that precedes type 2 diabetes) who aren't aware they have it is even higher.
What's the difference between pre-diabetes and diabetes? Pre-diabetes is largely defined by blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. But there's more: High blood pressure; central obesity; and high triglycerides and low HDL levels (lipid abnormalities) are also associated with pre-diabetes. And people with pre-diabetes are at higher risk for heart attack and stroke than those in the general population.
To detect pre-diabetes, doctors rely on the fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) or the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). With the FPG, normal fasting blood glucose is less than 100 mg/dl; an FPG between 100 and 125 mg/dl is considered pre-diabetes. (Anything above 126 mg/dl is diagnosed as diabetes.)
With the OGTT, normal blood glucose is less than 140 mg/dl two hours after consuming a glucose-rich drink. Anything between 140 and 199 mg/dl is considered pre-diabetes, and levels above 200 mg/dl are diabetes.
But the difference between pre-diabetes and diabetes is more than just a numbers game. People with pre-diabetes usually show no symptoms — but once they're diagnosed, they have the incredible opportunity to change their future and stop diabetes in its tracks. The bottom line is that unless they stabilize and lower their blood sugar levels through diet and exercise, most people with pre-diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. And while diabetes can and should be carefully controlled, once you have it, you'll have it for life.
"The good news is that pre-diabetes can actually be reversed with diet and lifestyle changes," says Dr. Arthur Agatston, preventive cardiologist and author of The South Beach Diet™. "Many of my patients actually started The South Beach Diet™ because they were diagnosed with pre-diabetes, and I've witnessed their blood glucose levels revert back to the normal range."
The ADA recommends diabetes screenings every three years beginning at age 45. If you have symptoms of diabetes, which include excessive thirst and hunger, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss and fatigue, or irritability, see your doctor for a proper diagnosis and individualized course of treatment.
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so, i'm working on that low carb thing. It's so hard for me... and exercising is REALLY hard for me to get motivated to do! grrrrrRRR!
Missy
