What is Prediabetes and the Signs to Watch Out For?

Diabetes is one of the prevalent diseases that affects persons of all ages. As of 2021, diabetes affected more than 400 million worldwide (NIH), and this figure surpassed one billion in 2023.

According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, more than 1.2 billion people are living with diabetes globally. The World Health Organization, on the other hand, reports that the mortality rate associated with diabetes is roughly 1.5 million annually.

Unfortunately, health experts predict that these figures will escalate in the forthcoming years.

What Can You Do to Reduce Your Likelihood of Developing Type II Diabetes?

Well, a lot of people have prediabetes. It is also known as borderline diabetes, where a person has higher than normal sugar levels but not enough to cause full-blown diabetes.

A risk with this condition is that it can develop into type II diabetes because it shows no symptoms. Therefore, a significant number of persons with borderline diabetes are not aware that they have the complication.

Currently, according to the CDC, roughly 98 million adults in the United States are living with prediabetes, and the National Institutes of Health states that the global burden is equally growing.

How can we handle the existing cases of prediabetes and reduce new ones?

Signs of Prediabetes

Weight Gain

Excess weight, especially around the belly area, is a common sign that you may have borderline diabetes. According to health experts, excess abdominal fat is not only the most stubborn type of body fat but also a considerable risk concerning blood pressure-related conditions. Excess fat around the belly causes insulin resistance due to alteration of the function of the adipose tissue.

What happens is the pancreas receives too much pressure to produce excess insulin, which, in turn, interferes with the performance of the insulin produced by the body. Abdominal weight gain may be related to a lot of issues. Some of the most prevalent causes of weight gain include poor diet, over-consumption of alcohol, excess consumption of sugary beverages, and stress, to mention a few.

Acting upon a particular issue that causes weight gain is the best solution to losing excess fat and reducing the likelihood of developing type II diabetes.

Skin Abnormalities

The skin, which is the largest organ of the body, is a line of defense against infections, allergens, disease, and foreign elements. The skin reacts to the majority of the body complications in different ways. A person with prediabetes will show some abnormal skin reactions and appearances. The common indications are skin rashes and tags. Nevertheless, several skin abnormalities are signs of borderline diabetes.

What are some skin conditions associated with prediabetes?

• Vitiligo: You may notice some light patches developing on the skin. Vitiligo is the loss of skin pigmentation.

• Skin Tags: These are small bumps that develop on the skin, especially around the neck and eyelids.

• Dry Skin: This is one of the most prevalent signs of a person with prediabetes. Due to the high sugar content in the body, the blood has a high affinity for water; it extracts excess fluids from the body cells. This causes one to have dry and itchy skin. Aside from that, fat deposits in the blood vessels cause poor blood circulation in the body, which also contributes to the dryness of the skin.

• Fungal Infections: Individuals with prediabetes may also develop yeast fungal infections, mainly caused by Candida albicans. The affected individual may notice round, red, and itchy patches around different parts of the skin, such as arms, neck, and armpits.

• Acanthosis Nigricans: The American Diabetes Association mentions this skin condition as one of the most prevalent linked to prediabetes. Acanthosis is an abnormality that results in darker patches anywhere on the skin, especially the neck and armpits.

You Crave Sugar

The primary phenomenon associated with all types of diabetes is insulin resistance. Typically, the body produces its insulin meant for use by the body for energy. The central role of the pancreas is to produce the hormone insulin that reduces excess glucose in the body, which later converts to energy for various metabolic purposes.

Regarding individuals with diabetes, the body rejects the pancreatic insulin; thereby, high levels of glucose remain in the blood. This means that persons with diabetes lack the adequate energy needed for various functions. They always have high glucose levels, and when the levels decline, they crave sugar for sustenance.

This is risky as it increases the likelihood of developing more severe complications such as cardiovascular diseases. For that reason, it is best to engage in practical methods to lessen and, eventually, stop the craving.

You Have a Sedentary Lifestyle

An inactive lifestyle predisposes individuals to diabetes, among other critical complications: stroke, obesity, heart diseases, and even particular types of cancers. What happens is with a sedentary lifestyle, the resting metabolic rate is minimized. Moreover, the body's insulin level becomes imbalanced, thus leading to high glucose levels in the body.

The outcome is diabetes and the likelihood of developing other health complications closely linked to the disease. According to evidence-based health reports, the majority of people with heart disease, obesity, and high blood pressure also have at least one type of diabetes. This is why the body usually needs to stay active to speed up metabolism, which in turn burns excess fat in the body.

Eventually, this promotes good health.

You Are Aging

Older adults are more likely to develop diabetes and its related complications compared to their younger counterparts. Statistics by the World Health Organization reveal that adults between the ages of 45 and 65 have higher rates than individuals below 45. Also, seniors above 65 years have the highest rate of the condition.

Health records show that insulin resistance increases with age. This is because older adults do not have the adequate energy to stay active, like their younger counterparts. Decreased muscle mass also contributes to insulin resistance. In conjunction with that, older adults are likely to have other underlying health complications because of reduced immunity.

This makes it difficult to manage diabetes. An individual who is 45 years and above should, therefore, make medical checkups a part of their regular routines to keep check of their blood sugar level. In case of any slight changes, a health professional will provide expert advice about the best action to take.

You Have a History of Blood Sugar Complications

Medically, you are at a significant risk of having prediabetes if you previously had high sugar levels. For instance, women who recently had diabetes are likely to experience a repeat episode because the blood sugar levels do not go back to normal. A significant number of women experience gestational diabetes.

This condition is a consequence of the fluctuation of hormones, which leads to weight gain. In turn, insulin resistance occurs. Note that not all pregnant women develop high sugar levels, but the chances are likely. This is why the regular blood sugar test is a recommendation for all pregnant women.

You are also at risk of having prediabetes if your family has a history of the condition. The likelihood increases if you have a first-degree relative who has diabetes.

According to medical research, there is a link between diabetes and genetic factors. In brief, some genes interact with environmental factors, thus leading to diabetes. The mutated genes pass down to some generations. This is one of the reasons physicians investigate your family medical history to determine your probability of getting prediabetes or type II diabetes.

Additionally, you are likely to get prediabetes if you are from a certain ethnicities. For instance, African Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, and Hispanics are more susceptible to diabetes compared to non-Hispanic Americans. As stated by the American Diabetes Association, the mentioned populations have genes that make them more vulnerable to diabetes.

Interrupted Sleep

If you toss and turn all night, it is best to seek medical assistance, as it, too, might be a sign that your sugar levels are higher than usual.

Poor sleeping patterns associate with weight gain. The reason behind this is that obstructed sleep interferes with the body's metabolism. The consequence is unstable sugar levels, thus leading to insulin resistance. That said, take note of your sleeping patterns.

Each year, the rate of new cases of diabetes continues to escalate. Worse, the mortality rate equally grows. One of the reasons for the current situation is that many people barely notice they have abnormal sugar levels until it is too late. Health professionals therefore recommend the prevention of new cases to lessen the disaster.

Fortunately, it is possible to reduce the chances of developing full-blown diabetes by keeping track of our sugar levels. This way, we can detect existing prediabetes that is easier to control and reversible. To achieve this, it is prudent to check for any signs linked to prediabetes, such as the ones mentioned above. Remember, medical checkups are crucial even when you have no symptoms of high sugar levels.