What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes in your reports

NIDDK lists prediabetes as any of these:

• HbA1c of 5.7 to 6.4 percent
• fasting blood sugar of 100 to 125 mg/dL
• a 2-hour glucose tolerance result of 140 to 199 mg/dL

Your lab may print slightly different cutoffs, so check the range on your report.

Why prediabetes matters

Prediabetes is a warning sign that type 2 diabetes may be on its way. The good news is that it can often be slowed, and sometimes turned back, with lifestyle changes.

A large US study called the Diabetes Prevention Program found that:

• people at high risk who lost 5 to 7 percent of their starting weight lowered their chance of getting diabetes
• the benefit lasted for at least 15 years
• lifestyle changes worked better than medicine

What helps with prediabetes

Small, steady changes work best.

What you eat:

• Fill half your thali with vegetables and dal.
• Keep rice and roti to a modest portion.
• Choose whole grains and millets more often.
• Limit sweets, biscuits and sugary chai.

Move every day, and if you're overweight, losing even a few kilos helps. Sleep well and don't smoke. Recheck your sugar as often as your doctor advises, so you can see your changes working.