What is Pre-Diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which the blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be labelled as diabetes. People with pre-diabetes do not have any signs or symptoms. They are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Approximately 77 million Indians have pre-diabetes and are at very high-risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
It is important for people with pre-diabetes to make changes in their existing lifestyle, which includes, having healthy diet (customised and target based diet in consultation with a trained dietician), increased physical activity and aiming for weight loss, where required. In absence of these changes, approximately one in three people with pre-diabetes will go on to develop type 2 diabetes.
Types of Pre-Diabetes
Impaired fasting glucose (IFG): In this type, the fasting blood glucose levels are higher than normal (more than 110 mg/dl but less than 126 mg/dl), with normal post meal blood glucose (between 70-140 mg/dl).
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT): In this type, the fasting blood glucose is normal (between 70 – 110 mg/dl), however, the post meal blood glucose levels are higher than normal (between 141-199 mg/dl).