How are millions of Americans are pre-diabetic and not even know it?

According to the American Diabetes Association, 29.1 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and another 84 million have prediabetes. Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are higher than average but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.

These numbers are staggering, especially considering that it’s estimated that one out of three Americans will develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetime (an estimated 90% of American adults over age 65 have prediabetes). However, many do not even know they are pre-diabetic or that they have chronically high blood sugar levels. The problem is that high blood sugar levels can cause many severe health issues when left untreated over a long period of time, even if you are not clinically diagnosed as “diabetic.” This is why it is important that everyone tests their blood sugar levels.

High Blood Sugar

What is high blood sugar?

Blood sugar levels are normally measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Normal fasted blood sugar levels are between 70-100 mg/dL, and the threshold for diabetes is 126 mg/dL. 100-125 mg/dL is considered pre-diabetes. However, ideally you want your fasting blood sugar levels to be under 90 mg/dL for optimal health. When your blood sugar levels rise above normal levels and remain there for two or more hours, you can develop symptoms like fatigue, hunger, and thirst. All of these symptoms come from the brain’s signal that it needs the energy to function properly—but if your blood glucose levels are too high, then there isn’t enough energy available to meet its needs. This is because the glucose is still circulating in your blood stream and is not being utilized by the cells in your body for energy.

Excess Sugar In The Blood

Blood sugar is glucose that is broken down from carbohydrates that you eat that the body then uses for energy. Excess protein can also be converted to glucose by the body through a process called gluconeogenesis.

Glucose enters your bloodstream after you eat or drink something containing carbohydrates. The glucose then travels through the body to be used by cells, where it’s converted into energy that helps us move around, think clearly, and keep our organs working properly. This is all done with the help of the pancreas and insulin. However, people who are pre-diabetic or diabetic have a hard time producing enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels within a normal range or their bodies do not utilize insulin properly. When there is not enough insulin present or the body’s cells are not responding to insulin properly, this causes high blood sugar levels.

High blood sugar levels over time can damage your nerves, blood vessels, and organs which may lead to diabetes complications and other diseases down the road.

Why Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels Is Important

Over time, elevated blood sugar levels can lead to serious health problems, such as:

  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Kidney disease and failure
  • Vision loss
  • Nerve damage

Monitoring your blood sugar levels is important to prevent diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage. Diabetes is an increasingly common condition that affects how the body utilizes and responds to glucose. If you have diabetes and don’t control it well, you are at risk for heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke. Heart attacks are more likely if you have high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus.

There is also an increased risk of nerve damage in your feet and hands among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with those without T2DM. The researchers behind this study found no difference between those with T1D or T2DM who had been diagnosed within five years versus those who had been diagnosed more than five years prior when it came to numbness/tingling in their fingers/toes or other sensory symptoms at baseline. After nine years, though, there was a significant difference. Those diagnosed more than five years prior were much less likely than those recently diagnosed (within 5 yrs) to experience sensory problems such as numbness/tingling in their fingers/toes or other sensory symptoms at follow-up (after 9 yrs).

Symptoms Of High Blood Sugar Levels

Often times, you will never know if your blood sugar levels are high unless you test them. This is what makes pre-diabetes and diabetes such dangerous conditions. However, when blood sugar levels rise to extremely high levels you may experience the following:

  • Increased thirst: High blood sugar levels can cause you to feel thirsty all the time, leading to dehydration and affecting your mood.
  • Increased hunger: If you’re experiencing high blood sugar levels, you’ll likely have an increased appetite. This can cause weight gain and make it difficult for you to stay within a healthy weight range.
  • Increased urination: This symptom is usually caused by the body attempting to rid itself of excess sugar in the blood through urination.
  • Fatigue: As with all conditions involving chronic inflammation, fatigue is one of those side effects that many people experience when dealing with high blood sugar over time.

It may be difficult for some people with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) or prediabetes (PD) to properly manage their condition due to lack of knowledge or understanding. These conditions can also be reversible with some lifestyle changes and by education of diabetes care and maintenance.

Pre-Diabetes Is Nothing To Take Lightly…

Prediabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood glucose concentration is higher than normal but not graded as high enough to be categorized as type 2 diabetes.

A prediabetes diagnosis indicates an increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other health complications—particularly if you do not make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk factors for these diseases.

High blood pressure (hypertension) and high LDL “bad” cholesterol are two conditions that increase the risk of developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. If you have any of these conditions, it may be important to have regular blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose tests to help monitor your overall health status over time. A fasting insulin test is another test you might consider as well. You can learn the importance of fasting insulin here.

Pre-Diabetes Flies Under The Radar

Prediabetes is reversible through lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, movement, proper sleep, stress management, and proper hydration to name a few. According to the American Diabetes Association, up to 30% of prediabetic patients are prone to develop type 2 diabetes within the next 5 years if they do not make lifestyle changes.

Many people with prediabetes don’t know that they have it because there are no signs or symptoms associated with it in most cases. The only way for doctors to diagnose it is through a blood glucose test at your annual physical exam or during an urgent visit when you experience extreme thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue. This is why everyone should test their blood sugar levels. It is especially easy to do even at home with a glucose monitoring kit.

Millions Of Americans Are Pre-Diabetic And Do Not Even Know It

Prediabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood glucose concentration is higher than normal but not graded as high enough to be categorized as type 2 diabetes. This can lead to serious health problems if left untreated, so everyone needs to know the signs of prediabetes and take action if they have any of these symptoms.

Many Americans don’t realize they have prediabetes because the symptoms often don’t appear until after years of living with it. The good news is that as mentioned, there are steps you can take now to reduce your risk of developing full-fledged diabetes later on in life!

Causes Of High Blood Sugar Levels

  • Insulin resistance: Insulin is a hormone, which is produced by the pancreas, that helps your body’s cells absorb and use sugar for energy. If you are insulin resistant, your body doesn’t respond well to insulin and can’t process sugar properly. This causes blood sugar levels to rise over time (which increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes).
  • Obesity: Overweight and obese people are more likely to develop high blood sugar levels than those who are normal weight. Being overweight also makes it harder for your body to process glucose effectively.
  • Physical inactivity: Physical inactivity can lead to insulin resistance, which increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes

How To Lower Elevated Blood Sugar Levels Naturally?

There are plenty of natural ways to reduce blood sugar levels. One of the most effective is eating a healthy diet with an emphasis on protein and healthy fats, exercising regularly, reducing stress, staying hydrated, staying active throughout the day (even just by getting your steps in), and getting enough sleep. Stress reduction techniques such as meditation or yoga can also be beneficial in controlling blood sugar levels. Avoiding alcohol and smoking will also help your body keep glucose and insulin in check.

If you have diabetes, taking medication as prescribed by your doctor will help keep your body’s insulin levels appropriately regulated so that they remain within normal limits all day long.

Conclusion

The good news is that there are many natural ways to lower blood sugar levels. One of the easiest ways to do this is by eating less sugar and processed foods. Another way is by taking certain supplements like cinnamon or a glucose disposal agent, as they have been shown in studies to help regulate blood sugar levels. You can also try exercising more, as exercise has proven to reduce fasting glucose levels (overall average) and glycemic response after meals with a high GI (glycemic index).

Learn about the 10 ways to reverse pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes here.

Learn about the importance of testing your blood sugar levels here.

Learn what to look for in a glucose monitor here.

Learn more about glucose disposal agents here.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 7). The surprising truth about prediabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/truth-about-prediabetes.html
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, December 21). About Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/about-prediabetes.html