Prediabetes is diagnosed when blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes. While not immediately health-threatening, prediabetes is a risk. Prediabetes develops into Type 2 diabetes in most people. It also creates a high risk for other serious medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. Prediabetes is a “silent” problem. It usually has no symptoms. People typically feel normal even though their blood sugar is high. It’s usually found accidentally on a routine blood test. However, a few people may have symptoms, so pay attention to possible high blood sugar warning signs.
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Prediabetes is a common health condition that can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, race, or ethnicity, but some ethnic groups are at a higher risk. Find updated prediabetes and diabetes statistics here.
Prediabetes typically has no signs or symptoms. If there are, early signs of prediabetes might include increased appetite, unexplained weight gain or weight loss, fatigue, weakness, sweating, slow wound healing, skin infections, and gum bleeding.
There are no serious symptoms of prediabetes.
Many factors, including genetics, lifestyle habits, and other medical conditions, cause prediabetes. You may be at risk for developing prediabetes symptoms if you have a family history of diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Obesity is also a significant risk factor. Some ethnic groups are at an increased risk of prediabetes, including African Americans, Latin Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders.
Prediabetes requires a medical diagnosis.
Prediabetes generally does not require medical treatment but does require lifestyle changes. Prediabetes symptoms typically resolve with lifestyle changes within a variable timeframe.
Treatment of prediabetes may include weight loss, dietary changes, exercise, and other lifestyle changes. Read more about prediabetes treatments here.
Untreated prediabetes could result in complications like Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
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Most people with prediabetes will not have symptoms. Regular blood tests are required to spot prediabetes before it becomes Type 2 diabetes. However, some people may experience signs of prediabetes, including:
Being more hungry than usual
Excess weight
Involuntary weight changes
Feeling tired
Sweating
Feeling weak
Cuts and bruises that don’t heal as quickly as they used to
Skin infections
Gum bleeding
Blurred vision
These are all signs of high blood sugar and are more typically experienced when blood sugar is high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes.
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Most people with prediabetes will have no symptoms. That’s why adults need to get regular check-ups and blood tests. In a small number of people, high blood sugar that is not yet high enough to be diabetes can cause symptoms. These include:
Increased hunger
Weight loss or weight gain
Tiredness
Weakness
Sweating
Slow healing
Skin infections
Gum bleeding
Blurred vision
Increased urination
Increased thirst
Dry mouth
One or more dark skin patches (acanthosis nigricans) on the armpits, groin, neck, or other places on the body
These symptoms might worsen over time. That’s a sign that prediabetes may have developed into Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is diagnosed when blood sugar levels are so high that the excess sugar slowly damages blood vessels. Prediabetes is a precursor to diabetes. It’s diagnosed when blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Diabetes is a health-threatening condition that, over time, can lead to nerve problems, vision loss, kidney disease, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and other serious health problems.
Most people with prediabetes will have no symptoms. They won’t know they have a blood sugar problem until they have a blood test. If they have symptoms, these will be similar to the symptoms of diabetes. On the other hand, people with diabetes will eventually notice they’re having problems: usually, a lack of energy, weakness, increased urination, and being more thirsty than usual.
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There are no types or stages of prediabetes. There’s only one stage, but there’s a high probability that prediabetes will develop into Type 2 diabetes.
Healthcare professionals distinguish between several types of diabetes:
Prediabetes is high blood sugar that is not high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis—it is typically diagnosed in adults
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar due to the pancreas not producing enough insulin to remove glucose from the blood—Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children
Type 2 diabetes is high blood sugar due to insulin resistance so that normal insulin levels do not adequately remove glucose from the blood—it is usually diagnosed in adults
Gestational diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels in pregnant women who do not have diabetes
Maturity-onset diabetes of the young are inherited forms of diabetes that limit the body’s ability to make insulin occurring in children and young adults who have no risk factors for developing diabetes
Other forms of diabetes are severely high blood sugar in newborn babies (neonatal diabetes) and diabetes caused by medical conditions or drugs (secondary diabetes).
RELATED: How many types of diabetes are there?
See a healthcare provider if any of the warning signs of high blood sugar are experienced. Most people with prediabetes will have no symptoms or warning signs. For this reason, anyone older than 35 should see a healthcare provider to have their blood sugar tested. Talk to the provider about how often screening should occur after the initial test.
Prediabetes is diagnosed by measuring glucose levels in the blood. The most common tests given are a fasting plasma glucose test and an A1C test. A fasting glucose test measures the concentration of glucose currently in the bloodstream. Fasting tests are done after not having anything to eat or drink (except water) for at least 8 hours before the test and are usually done first thing in the morning, before breakfast. An A1C test (glycated hemoglobin test) measures the average amount of glucose in the bloodstream over the last two to three months. Some people may get an oral glucose tolerance test to measure how quickly they clear glucose from the bloodstream, but this is more commonly used for pregnant women.
RELATED: Fasting blood sugar levels and test info
If high blood sugar is not addressed, prediabetes can lead to complications such as:
Type 2 diabetes
Heart disease
Stroke
Prediabetes requires intervention but not necessarily medical treatment. Prediabetes is reversible largely through lifestyle changes. These include:
Reducing weight
Eating a healthy low-calorie and low-fat diet
Exercising for at least 150 minutes per week
In some cases, prescription medications may be used to lower blood sugar. The American Diabetes Association recommends only metformin, but acarbose is an alternative treatment option. Both are effective and have minimal side effects.
RELATED: Your guide to reversing diabetes with diet and treatments
A prediabetes diagnosis is not a disaster. People can reverse prediabetes by changing the way they live. The most effective ways to manage prediabetes and avoid Type 2 diabetes are:
Lose weight—start by losing at least 7% of your current body weight if you are overweight
Exercise—do at least 150 minutes of moderately intense exercise per week
Break up long periods of time sitting with physical activity
Eat a low-calorie, low-fat diet such as the Mediterranean diet
Add more fiber, whole grains, nuts, yogurt, berries, and non-starchy vegetables to the diet
Avoid red meats, sweetened beverages, refined carbohydrates, and sugary foods
Talk to a dietitian if it’s too difficult to change dietary habits or lose weight
Join the National Diabetes Prevention Program sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
RELATED: The best diet for prediabetes
Prediabetes typically has no symptoms. Without intervention, it could worsen into Type 2 diabetes. However, prediabetes is reversible. With the right lifestyle changes, blood sugar levels can be returned to normal, and diabetes can be avoided. Success depends on seeing a doctor regularly and having regular blood tests. If a test shows that blood sugar is too high, lifestyle changes should be made. Weight loss, a healthy diet, and exercise are often enough to recover healthy blood sugar levels.
Prediabetes is a silent condition. Most people with prediabetes will not notice any warning signs or symptoms. Because the symptoms of prediabetes are “silent,” older adults should have their blood sugar regularly screened.
Although itchy and dry skin are common skin problems associated with diabetes, most people with prediabetes will not have itchy skin or other symptoms of high blood sugar. However, any symptom of high blood sugar should be brought to the attention of a healthcare professional, especially if there are risk factors like excess weight, hypertension, or a family history of diabetes.
Most people with prediabetes will not feel weak, but it is possible. Any symptom of high blood sugar should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Diabetes: 12 warning signs that appear on your skin, American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
Fasting blood sugar levels and test info, SingleCare
Guide to prediabetes: symptoms, causes, and treatments, SingleCare
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) symptoms: what are the early signs of high blood sugar, SingleCare
Prediabetes, StatPearls
Guide to prediabetes: symptoms, causes, and treatments, SingleCare
Prediabetes, StatPearls
Prediabetes—your chance to prevent Type 2 diabetes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Prevention of delay of Type 2 diabetes: , Diabetes Care
Your guide to reversing diabetes with diet and treatments, SingleCare
How many types of diabetes are there?, SingleCare
Type 2 diabetes treatments and medications, SingleCare
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