Prediabetes

Prediabetes is a metabolic condition in which blood glucose levels lie between normal and type 2 diabetes. It often develops silently, with few or no obvious symptoms, so many people remain unaware they have it. Clinically, it is detected through blood tests such as fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, or HbA1c, which show values above the normal range but below diabetes thresholds.

Prediabetes signals insulin resistance or reduced insulin secretion, meaning the body struggles to manage glucose efficiently. Left unaddressed, it greatly increases the risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes, as well as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney damage. However, this stage is largely reversible with timely interventions.

Key preventive measures include gradual weight loss, especially around the abdomen, eating a balanced diet rich in fibre and low in refined sugars and saturated fats, and engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. In high?risk individuals, doctors may also consider medications such as metformin alongside lifestyle changes. Regular screening and early lifestyle correction are crucial to halting progression and protecting long?term health.