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Pre-Diabetes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 41 million U.S. adults - ages 40 to 74 - have pre-diabetes. This condition does not only affect adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that one of every 10 males and one of every 25 females, ages 12 to 19, have pre-diabetes.

Pre-diabetes is a term used to distinguish people who are at increased risk of developing diabetes. People with pre-diabetes have impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Some people may have both IFG and IGT.

IFG is a condition in which the fasting blood sugar level is elevated (100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL) after an overnight fast, but is not high enough to be classified as diabetes. IGT is a condition in which the blood sugar level is elevated (140 to 199 mg/dL) after a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test, but is not high enough to be classified as diabetes.

In a cross-section of U.S. adults aged 40-74 years who were tested from 1988 to 1994, 33.8% had IFG, 15.4% had IGT, and 40.1% had pre-diabetes (IGT or IFG or both). If these percentages are applied to the 2000 U.S. population, about 35 million adults aged 40-74 would have IFG, 16 million would have IGT, and 41 million would have pre-diabetes.

Still, progression to diabetes among those with pre-diabetes is not inevitable. Studies suggest that weight loss and increased physical activity among people with pre-diabetes may return blood glucose levels to normal. People with pre-diabetes are already at increased risk for other adverse health outcomes such as heart disease and stroke. (Centers for Disease Control)

Diabetes Prevention

Research studies have found that diet and exercise can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes among high-risk adults. These studies included people with IGT and other high-risk characteristics for developing diabetes. Lifestyle interventions included diet and moderate-intensity physical activity (such as walking for 2 1/2 hours each week).