Prediabetes

Spanish Translation (PDF) | Hmong Translation (PDF)

Prediabetes happens when your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than normal. It's a serious condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes and damage your health, especially your heart. It's also your last opportunity to prevent type 2 diabetes. That's because prediabetes is much easier to reverse than type 2 diabetes. It only takes a few lifestyle changes to reduce your risk and lower your blood sugar levels.

Prediabetes is more common than most people think. Its effects are serious, but the symptoms can go undetected for years. Unfortunately, that means most of the 88 million people living with prediabetes don't know they have it. If they knew, they'd want to change it. So don't wait to find out if you're at risk. Take the one-minute risk test now.

Who is at risk?

Prediabetes doesn't always show signs or symptoms. In fact, more than 4 out of 5 of people who have prediabetes don't know they have it, making it all the more important to learn the risks. As you review these factors, it’s important to acknowledge that we all don’t have the same opportunities for health. Things like where you were born and grow up, your economic standing, your exposure to trauma, and where you go to school or work can all influence your access to vital resources (like quality health care), which can then affect your long-term health. The good news is that prediabetes can often be reversed, lowering your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Know the risks

If you have one or more of these characteristics, you may be at higher risk than others for developing prediabetes, and eventually, type 2 diabetes:

• Being overweight
• Being 45 or older
• Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
• Physically active less than three times per week
• Ever having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
• Having polycystic ovary syndrome
• Having high blood pressure
• Being a man
• Belonging to certain racial or ethnic groups, including African American, Latinx American, American Indian, Pacific Islander, and some Asian American communities
• Experiencing trauma, abuse or neglect during childhood 

Worried you may be at risk for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes? Don't wait. Take the one-minute risk test. It's an easy first step to stopping higher than normal blood sugar from damaging your health.

They found out and changed it

Hear from people just like you, who learned about their risk for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes and decided to take action. Head to Take Control of Your Health to find out why joining a lifestyle change program worked for them, or visit Your Health with Joan Lunden to see more prediabetes success stories.

Don't go it alone

Making small, positive changes to your everyday habits isn’t always easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. Lifestyle change programs connect you with experienced coaches and people who face similar challenges, giving you guidance and support to build healthy habits. Don’t wait. You really can lower your blood sugar and prevent type 2 diabetes—and there are resources in your community to guide you each step of the way.

Take the next step

The first step to preventing or reversing prediabetes? Getting the facts. Learn about the dangerous myths that make prediabetes seem more harmless than it is, find out what you can do to reduce your risk, and more.