Prediabetes is when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered in the diabetes range.
Diabetes UK has information about what could put you at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and have developed a tool to help you assess your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
Blood glucose levels are measured by HbA1c.
- Normal: HbA1c = less than 42mmol/mol
- Prediabetes: 42 – 47 mmol/mol
- Diabetes – 48 mmol/mol or more
Prediabetes can also be called “impaired glucose tolerance” or “impaired fasting glucose”. It may seem reassuring that you do not have diabetes but it does increase the likelihood of going on to develop diabetes. The good news is that you can reduce the risk of diabetes if you can improve your diet, lose weight and do more exercise.
Why It Matters
It is important to know whether you have prediabetes because
- you can take steps to try and prevent it developing into diabetes
- many people with prediabetes have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease which can be reduced
- sometimes blood glucose levels can go up and increase the risk of you developing symptoms for example if you need to take steroids, certain medicines for anxiety or depressions, if you have increased stress
- having prediabetes will increase your risk of gestational diabetes so it is important to have your HbA1c checked before you become pregnant
- you should have your HbA1c checked every year to screen for diabetes
Find out more
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Online Course – An online interactive course to help you understand and live well with prediabetes