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Prediabetes Screening: A Kind Place to Start
If a lab result mentioned prediabetes, take a breath. This is useful information. Not a reason to worry. Prediabetes is common. It is also workable. Your body uses insulin to move sugar from the blood into your cells for energy. With insulin resistance, that process gets a little sluggish. Sugar stays in the blood longer. Many people bring their numbers into a healthier range with food, movement, sleep, and a little support.
Type 1 and type 2
When people say diabetes, they usually mean one of two main types. Both can be managed. People live long, full, healthy lives with either one. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition. The body stops making enough insulin. It often begins in childhood or young adulthood, though it can appear later. People with type 1 take insulin and stay close with their care team. Type 2 diabetes is much more common in adults. The body still makes insulin but does not use it as well as it should. That is insulin resistance. Type 2 can run in families. It also connects to how we eat, how we move, sleep, stress, and weight. This is the path prediabetes is on — which is why lifestyle changes now can help so much.
What are the signs of prediabetes?
There may not be any. That is why a prediabetes screening helps. Some people notice:
- Feeling thirstier than usual
- More trips to the bathroom
- Feeling tired after meals
- A little extra weight around the middle
Many people feel completely themselves. You do not have to wait for a big symptom. A simple blood sugar test can answer the question.
Common risk factors
It is reasonable to ask about a prediabetes screening if you:
- Are 35 or older
- Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
- Carry extra weight, especially at the waist
- Had higher blood sugar in pregnancy, or a baby 9 pounds or more
- Have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Do not get much activity most days
One item on that list is enough reason to ask. You do not need every box checked.
How does blood sugar testing work?
With a blood test. Quick and familiar.
- A1C. Your average blood sugar over about three months. No fasting. Prediabetes is usually 5.7% to 6.4%.
- Fasting blood sugar. Water only for at least eight hours. Prediabetes is often 100 to 125 mg/dL.
- Glucose tolerance test. A sweet drink, then another draw two hours later. 140 to 199 mg/dL can point to prediabetes.
If a health fair or pharmacy reading came back high, that is a helpful start. Your primary care provider can confirm it with a lab and walk through the numbers with you.
When should I schedule a screening?
Whenever the question is on your mind. You do not need to wait for a special month. Ask at your next visit if it has been a while, if type 2 runs in your family, or if pregnancy ever raised your blood sugar. If you already know you have prediabetes, most people recheck every one to two years. Sooner if you are changing how you eat or move and want to see progress.
How to prevent diabetes with small lifestyle changes
Kind, steady habits. Not a total makeover by Friday. What helps many people who want to know how to prevent diabetes from moving toward type 2:
- A modest change in weight, if that is part of your picture. Often about 5% to 7% is enough to help high blood sugar
- Moving most days in a way you can keep. A 20-minute walk counts. About 150 minutes a week is a common goal
- Meals that keep blood sugar on a gentler path
- A little more care for sleep and stress, when you can give it
A plate that feels doable:
- Half: colorful vegetables. Salad, broccoli, peppers, green beans, tomatoes.
- A quarter: protein. Chicken, fish, eggs, beans, Greek yogurt, leftover roast.
- A quarter: slower carbs. Fruit, beans, potatoes with the skin, oats, whole-grain bread.
- Pair carbs with protein or fiber so you feel satisfied longer.
- Choose water or unsweetened drinks most of the time.
Favorite foods can still have a place. The goal is a pattern you can keep.
Will I have to give up everything I like?
No. Hammond-Henry dietitians help you build a way of eating that fits your life. They tend to ask three gentle questions: How much? How often? What else is on the plate? Anna Kreiser, MS, RDN, LDN, one of our dietitians, likes to remind people that small changes you keep are more helpful than a strict plan you cannot sustain. You do not have to give up every favorite food. A few adjustments, repeated, add up.
Hammond-Henry Nutrition Services helps with prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, cholesterol, kidney health, and everyday eating. Dietitians see people in clinic, teach in cardiac and pulmonary rehab, and share practical food ideas in the community.
Take the next step
You do not have to figure this out alone.
- Ask your primary care provider about a prediabetes screening.
- If your numbers are up, ask for a referral to Nutrition Services.
Ready to talk with a dietitian about high blood sugar, insulin resistance, or how to prevent diabetes with habits that fit your life? Visit us online or call (309) 944-9118. We’re here to help.