Prediabetes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 of every 3 U.S. adults had prediabetes in 2010. That is 79 million Americans aged 20 years or older. The vast majority of people living with prediabetes do not know they have it.
People with prediabetes have blood glucose (blood sugar) levels that are higher than normal, but not high
enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Many factors increase your risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. To find out more about your risk, see which characteristics in this list apply to you.
- I am 45 years of age or older.
- I am overweight.
- I have a parent with diabetes.
- I have a sister or brother with diabetes.
- My family background is African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.
- I had diabetes while I was pregnant (gestational diabetes), or I gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more.
- I am 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.