Prediabetes
Understanding the FPG Test Results
| Condition | FPG |
| Normal | Less than 100 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) |
| Prediabetes | 100 mg/dL - 125 mg/dL |
| Diabetes | 126 mg/dL or greater on two or more tests |
Another laboratory health screening test your doctor can perform is the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). During this test, your blood sugar is measured after a fast and then again 2 hours after drinking a beverage containing a large amount of glucose. Two hours after the glucose beverage, if your glucose is higher than normal, you have what's called "impaired glucose tolerance," which suggests prediabetes.
Understanding the OGTT Test Results
| Condition | OGTT at 2 hours |
| Normal | Less than 140 mg/dL |
| Prediabetes | 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL |
| Diabetes | Greater than 200 mg/dL |
Hemoglobin A1C Test
The hemoglobin A1C test is a simple blood test that reflects the average blood sugar for the past 3 to 4 months. It can be used to check if your diabetes is under control, but it can also be used to diagnose diabetes.
Normal: 5.6% or less
Prediabetes: 5.7 to 6.4%
Diabetes: 6.5 % or above
Why Is It Important to Recognize and Treat Prediabetes?
By identifying the signs of prediabetes before diabetes occurs, you can prevent type 2 diabetes altogether and lower your risk of complications associated with this condition, such as heart disease.
A recently completed research study called the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) found that many people who made healthy changes in their diet and who increased their physical activity were able to prevent diabetes. And many were able to return their blood sugar levels back into the normal range. The DPP found that just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day coupled with a 7% weight loss produced almost a 60% reduction in diabetes.
What's the Treatment for Prediabetes?
To successfully treat prediabetes:
- Eat a heart healthy diet and lose weight. A 5% to 10% weight loss can make a huge difference.
- Exercise. Try to work up to 30 minutes of exercise a day, 5 days a week. The activity can be split into several short periods: 3 sessions of 10 minutes. Select an activity that you enjoy such as walking. Check with your doctor before increasing your activity level..
- Stop smoking.
- Treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
WebMD Medical Reference
Diabetes GuideIs This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
how well you manage your blood sugar over time.
This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
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