Borderline Diabetes - Is There A Difference Between Prediabetes And Type 2 Diabetes?

If you have been diagnosed with prediabetes, then this is the stage to get into action! There is no way that you could get into action without awareness of the problem.

The first step begins with awareness.

What is Borderline Diabetes?

Prediabetes (or borderline diabetes) is when the blood sugars are outside of the normal range but not in the range to diagnose type 2 diabetes.

The clinical name for this is called impaired fasting glucose.

Prediabetes or borderline diabetes is important because it serves as a warning sign. This is the time to make important adjustments in lifestyle. Or the risk of becoming a type 2 diabetic rises.

How is Prediabetes Diagnosed?

The fastest way to diagnose prediabetes is with a fasting blood sugar. I usually recommend an overnight fast of at least 8 hours and if possible up to 12 hours.

Normal blood glucose levels for diabetes are between 70-99 mg/dL. Essentially less than 100 mg/dL.

When the blood glucose level is between 100-125 mg/dL, this indicates prediabetes or borderline diabetes.

If the level is over 126 mg/dl this indicates type 2 diabetes.

Another test that can be used to diagnose prediabetes is called the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

This is a more detailed test. First, a fasting blood glucose level is performed. Once again an 8-12 hour fast is required.

Then you are given a very sweet liquid to drink. This is equivalent to 75 G glucose or the amount of sugar in a can of coke for instance.

Two hours after drinking this, another blood test is done. If this level is between than 140 and 199 mg/dL.

When the blood sugar level is over 200 mg/dL then this indicates type 2 diabetes.

Does Borderline Diabetes Have Any Symptoms?

There are no symptoms associated with borderline diabetes. So do not expect to have the common signs of diabetes.

What Are The Risks Associated With Prediabetes?

The main risk is developing type 2 diabetes. However people with prediabetes are at an increased risk for heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure.

Get more information about how diabetes and hypertension are linked.

Remember that the same risks that put you at risk for type 2 diabetes can also put you at risk for prediabetes.

What Can You Do To Prevent Prediabetes From Becoming Type 2 Diabetes?

Just as I pointed out earlier in the article, being diagnosed with prediabetes should serve as a warning signal to make adjustments in your lifestyle.

In other words it does not mean that inevitably you will become a type 2 diabetic.

Patients diagnosed with prediabetes should be closely monitored. This is one of the times that, with a commitment to a healthy lifestyle, progression to diabetes can be reversed.

The hallmark of successfully reversing prediabetes remains diet and exercise. If you are overweight or obese, commit to losing weight.

Just by losing 10% of your current body weight you could reverse these effects.

It is important to partner with your physician during this critical stage. By monitoring your blood tests, you and your physician are better aware of corrective action to take.

Sometimes your doctor may opt to put you on a medication called metformin. When this happens, many times patients may get confused because they don't quite understand why they are on a medication for diabetes even though they do not have diabetes. But research shows that metformin helps to reduce the probability of developing full-blown diabetes.

So the next time that you hear someone tell you that they were just diagnosed with prediabetes or borderline diabetes, do them a favor and educate them about it.

Let them know that this is the time to begin to make changes in their lifestyle.

Diabetes Complications - Is There A Link Between Diabetes And Hypertension?

You are maintaining a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise. You are checking your blood sugar levels and they are within target range. Your A1C is less than 7%.

You are scheduled to see your healthcare provider for your routine visit. You're feeling good.

"Everything looks good, it's just that your blood pressure has risen over the last few months", you're healthcare provider reports, "We are going to have to start you on blood pressure medications."

You're bewildered. How can this be? Everything seemed to be going well. Why have you just been diagnosed with hypertension?

Is there a link between diabetes and hypertension?

The short answer to this question for people living with type 2 diabetes is YES. The link is explained by what clinicians call metabolic syndrome.

I know that this word may mean very little to you. But this information is very important for anyone living with type 2 diabetes. I am going to explain what this means in as simple terms as possible.

It is my intention that the knowledge is presented in an easy to understand format. That way you are better able to take action. It is only by taking action that you can live powerfully with diabetes.

So let's dive right back into what is metabolic syndrome and how it links diabetes and hypertension.

What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a group of characteristics. It is not really medical illness. The important thing is that these characteristics put you at an increased risk for developing certain diseases.

These diseases include type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Metabolic syndrome is also called metabolic X syndrome, syndrome X and also insulin resistance syndrome.

Most clinical experts define metabolic syndrome as having three or more of any of the following:

Obesity in the abdomen. Greater than 32 inches in women and 38 inches in men.High fasting blood sugar levels more than 100-125 mg/dlA high blood pressure of more than 130/85 mm hg or if you are taking blood pressure medication.A high triglyceride level of more than 150 mg/dl or a low HDL level of less than 40 mg/dl.

The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome.

More than 2/3rd of the adult American population is either overweight or obese. The number of people with metabolic syndrome has risen just as the obesity epidemic in this country. Currently that rate is at 34% of the adult population.

The following factors put you at risk for developing metabolic syndrome:

Being overweight. In other words a BMI of more than 25.SmokingEating a diet that is high in carbohydratesSmokingLack of exerciseMenopauseFamily history of diabetes or metabolic syndrome.Increasing age.

What health risks are associated with Metabolic Syndrome?

People with metabolic syndrome are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
They are also at risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease consists of several diseases. I like to compare the cardiovascular system to the plumbing system in your house. Your symptoms depend on what part of the arteries gets clogged up. Cholesterol gets deposited in the arteries as fatty plaques. When the arteries in the heart get clogged up with plaque, this is called coronary artery disease. If the plaque collects in the blood vessels in the brain, it is called cerebrovascular disease and can cause a stroke.

How is Metabolic Syndrome diagnosed?

Schedule an annual physical exam with your healthcare provider. Your doctor will check your weight and calculate your BMI.

If you are overweight or obese, be sure to get your waist measurement taken. Most healthcare offices should have a tape measure, if not you can easily check your waist measurement at home.

You will get also get blood tests done. These will include your fasting lipid profile and also your blood sugar.

It's always a good idea to schedule an appointment for your annual physical first thing in the morning. That way, you can go in fasting- without having eaten anything.

Please do not to take your medications if you do not eat. This will reduce your risk for hypoglycemia.

Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome:

The goal of the treatment for metabolic syndrome is to reduce the complications that it can lead to - such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The primary goal is weight loss. Become more physically active. And eat a healthy diet. This is what a wellness way of life is all about.

This will help to reduce your cholesterol and also keep your blood sugars in target range.

If you smoke, make a commitment to quit smoking.

High blood pressure is when your blood pressure is more than 140/90 mmhg. It is diagnosed after your healthcare provider has obtained more than 3 readings of an elevated blood pressure.

When diet and exercise fail to bring the blood pressure down to normal range, your healthcare provider will opt to start you on medications.

So there you have it. The link between diabetes and hypertension is metabolic syndrome. And it is because of this link that a lot of people with type 2 diabetes inevitably end up on blood pressure medications also.

The goal is to control or reduce your risk for metabolic syndrome and reduce your risk of complications of diabetes.

Differences Between Prediabetes and Diabetes

Prediabetes Versus Diabetes

The first thing you need to learn is the difference between prediabetes and diabetes. Knowing what prediabetes and diabetes are, and understanding the similarities and differences between them, makes it easier to find out if you have one of these conditions. Pre-diabetes means that you don't yet have diabetes, but if you do nothing you may develop type 2 diabetes in the future. The biggest worry with prediabetes is an increased risk for heart disease, even if diabetes never develops.

When you have prediabetes you have something called insulin resistance. This means that your body doesn't respond correctly to the insulin your body makes. Your body then has to make more and more insulin to keep your blood sugar levels in the normal range. When you have insulin resistance, other abnormalities of fat and blood pressure occur that can clog your arteries with plaque. So when I talk about treating prediabetes I am talking about preventing both diabetes and heart disease. This condition (and its associated disorder known as the metabolic syndrome, or syndrome X) is very common; more than 44 million Americans have it.

How High Blood Sugar Levels Related to Prediabetes and Diabetes

Diabetes, which is an abnormality of blood sugar levels, is classified by three distinct types. Type 2 is the most common and is the type of diabetes people get if their prediabetes is not treated. Type 1 diabetes is the form of diabetes for which patients must take insulin shots for the rest of their lives. The third type is gestational diabetes, which is a form of type 2 diabetes that can occur during pregnancy. When I treat patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, I work with them to bring blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels into the normal range. This helps lower their risk for heart disease and stroke (just as in patients with prediabetes) as well as the risk for blindness, kidney failure, and amputation.

When you are first diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes you need to find health care providers who can give you the education and treatment that you need. Later I will describe how to find helps and who can give it. What is most important to realize right now is that we can do something about prediabetes and diabetes.

Don't Be Desperate if You Have Prediabetes and Diabetes

Having these conditions isn't the death sentence. Think of them instead as an opportunity to take control, to have a longer, healthier life. Many of the diabetes management skills I hope to I can make you (actually anyone) healthier overall. Fixing one part of your health - for instance, increasing the fiber in your diet to help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, can also affect another area, such a lowering the risk for colon cancer. Treating diabetes is treating your well-being overall.