Health Tip: Understanding Pre-Diabetes

When blood sugar is elevated, but not high enough for full-blown diabetes

July 3, 2009 RSS Feed Print

(HealthDay News) -- Before some people develop full-blown diabetes, their blood sugar is above normal, but not high enough to qualify for a diagnosis of diabetes.

This condition is called pre-diabetes, the American Diabetes Association says.

Normally, a person's blood sugar (glucose) is 100 mg/dl or below. When it rises to between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl, a person has pre-diabetes. Once a blood test determines that blood sugar is 126 mg/dl or higher, diabetes is diagnosed, the ADA says.

If you have pre-diabetes, you should discuss with your doctor making lifestyle changes including modest weight loss and getting regular exercise. This can help prevent pre-diabetes from turning into the full-blown disease.