Question of the Week: "Difference between Pre-Diabetes & Diabetes"

The following question was submitted for discussion on this week's blog post, "What is the difference between Pre-Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes?  Could you tell me the diagnostic criteria for both as well as the treatment?"

Pre-Diabetes is the condition that occurs when one's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.   Either condition can be diagnosed by a fasting plasma glucose test ( FPG), or an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).  After an overnight fast, a person's blood glucose is measured via an FPG first thing in the morning before eating or consuming a drinking high in glucose for an OGTT.



Using results from the FPG, normal fasting blood glucose is below 100 mg/dl. A person diagnosed with prediabetes will have a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl. If blood glucose level is elevated to 126 mg/dl or above, a person would be diagnosed with diabetes.

Using results from the oral glucose tolerance test, normal blood glucose would be below 140 mg/dl 2 hours following the drink. For someone with prediabetes, the 2-hour blood glucose would read between 140 and 199 mg/dl. With diabetes, the 2-hour blood glucose becomes elevated to 200 mg/dl or higher.
Treatment for prediabetes includes:

• Weight loss (approximately 5 - 10% of total body weight) - even a 5 - 10# weight loss will make a big difference!
• Healthy and well balanced diet
• Moderate exercise (i.e. 30 minutes daily/5 days week)

Treatment for diabetes includes all those listed above but may also include medications if the doctor deems it
necessary.  An important difference to make note of is that prediabetes can be reversed while diabetes can not.   For this reason it is important to intervene and make healthful changes as soon as you can with prediabetes so it doesn't progress to a permanent condition.


Source:  American Diabetes Association