Prediabetes

High-risk medical condition estimated to globally affect
482 million people by 2040

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a serious medical condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as full-blown type 2 diabetes. Without treatment, prediabetes significantly increases the risk of developing full-blown type 2 diabetes, a disease that takes six years off a person’s life, doubling the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke. Prediabetes is diagnosed in the same way as diabetes, using a simple blood test.

Estimate your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by taking the test below.

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Why is prediabetes dangerous?

Studies have shown that over 70% of people with prediabetes will eventually develop diabetes[1]. Diabetes affects many major organs, including the heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Some of the potential disabling or even life-threatening complications of diabetes include:

  • Heart and blood vessel disease
  • Nerve damage
  • Kidney damage
  • Sleep apnea
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Stroke
  • Blindness
  • Amputations

Research indicates that prediabetes is often associated with unrecognized heart attacks and can damage the kidneys, even if the condition has not yet progressed to type 2 diabetes[2].

The number of individuals with prediabetes is expected to grow substantially and estimated to globally affect 482 million people by 2040[3].

Progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes can be prevented if intervention is initiated early on.

IN 2030 TYPE 2 DIABETES IS EXPECTED TO BE THE 7TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH

SOURCE: WHO