It is a condition that affects millions of people but does not cause any symptoms. Most sufferers will feel and look absolutely fine. However, it is the precursor to type 2 diabetes, one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world.
It is called prediabetes, which is characterized by elevated blood sugar that is dangerously close to, but not yet completely within, the diabetic range. And it’s a problem no one can afford to ignore.
People with prediabetes are believed to be ten to fifteen times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetime. The charity Diabetes UK estimates that around 13.5 million people are in this category, a quarter of all adults in this country. That is why, within a decade, one in ten British adults is expected to have type 2 diabetes, a disease that the NHS already spends £ 10bn each year on treating, or ten per cent of its total. budget.
Professor Naveed Sattar, an expert in metabolic health, in the photo, said that long-term uncontrolled high blood sugar wreaks havoc all over the body, increasing the risk of blindness, kidney failure and erectile dysfunction.
People with prediabetes are believed to be 10 to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetime.
It is no longer just a middle-aged or elderly disease. The latest figures suggest that 122,000 people in England with type 2 diabetes are under 40 years old. And these younger patients have a substantially higher risk of adverse health repercussions. For many it means a lifetime with medication, and even with treatment there are no guarantees. Long-term uncontrolled high blood sugar wreaks havoc all over the body, increasing the risk of blindness, kidney failure and erectile dysfunction. It stops the healing of wounds as they should be, causing chronic infections and amputations. And people with type 2 diabetes are much more likely to suffer heart attacks, strokes and dementia.
Prediabetes is not only a precursor to problems, but it carries its own health risks. Studies show that people with blood sugar levels in the prediabetic range are more likely to suffer heart attacks and strokes than the average person. Some even suffer damage to the eyes or kidneys, according to recent research by scientists at Imperial College London. This may be related to excess fat, rather than blood sugar levels.
But in short, you don’t want to get any conditions. And the good news is that it is not necessary.
It is becoming increasingly clear that by detecting prediabetes and taking steps to safeguard future health, it is possible to prevent the disease before it arrives.
And it doesn’t involve expensive drugs, surgeries, or treatments, just a few lifestyle tweaks that, with a little ardor and determination, anyone can do.
The big questions are: what exactly is prediabetes, how do you know if you have it, and what should you do if you do?
As a Professor of Metabolic Medicine at the University of Glasgow, I have spent decades treating and studying these conditions. And today, in The Mail on Sunday, we’ll tell you the latest scientific evidence on prediabetes and everything you need to know about how to beat it.
To simplify, we have created a five-point plan to address prediabetes that anyone can do.
If you are overweight, especially if your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher, you are more at risk. This is well known. But the latest evidence suggests that when it comes to prediabetes, it’s not just how much fat it has, but where the body is located that really matters.
If you are overweight, especially if your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher, you are more at risk. This is well known. But the latest evidence suggests that when it comes to prediabetes, it’s not just how much fat it has, but where the body is located that really matters.
Some people are genetically prone to storing excess fat more quickly in the liver and other organs. This fat called ectopic fat is a big risk factor. But as we will explain, genetics does not mean that our destiny is sealed. Losing weight, or changing the way we eat, can have a radical impact on the rise in blood sugar. It’s advice that many of us could afford to hear.
Even entering the Covid pandemic, 63 per cent of adults in England were overweight or obese. And the last few years have not helped. According to one study, about 40 percent of us put an average of half a stone during confinements.
The latest figures suggest that 122,000 people in England with type 2 diabetes are under 40 years old. And these younger patients have a substantially higher risk of adverse health repercussions.
I insist, this is an average. A patient who had come in 3rd since I last saw him in 2020 came to my clinic. He had stopped moving and was working from home. Instead of walking 10,000 steps a day, which he had been doing and burning about 400 calories, he was just sitting. Crucially, he ate the same amount.
It is not necessary to be so overweight to develop prediabetes: on average, people with this disease are between half a stone and a stone and a half heavier than people with ideal blood sugar levels. However, on average, people with prediabetes only need to gain a few more pounds before suffering from full-blown diabetes.
It is not necessary to be so overweight to develop prediabetes: on average, people with this disease are between half a stone and a stone and a half heavier than people with ideal blood sugar levels.
And that’s what gives us such an ideal opportunity to do something about it before it becomes a problem. And it doesn’t have to be that hard. Despite what you’ve heard, experts agree that you don’t need to follow a punishing diet, live with meal replacement smoothies, or eliminate carbs to change things.
I am Asian and have a family history of diabetes, which means I have a substantially higher risk.
I do little things to maintain weight. I always have a salad with dinner, as filling this up means I will eat less carbs or meat. I trained to stop taking sugar in my tea and eat just one finger of a KitKat. It means I savor it and enjoy it a lot more. It’s a delight, not just something I consume without thinking.
We can all make a few simple and sustainable changes. And I’m not exaggerating when I say they can change lives.
My research has found that people with prediabetes can also have high blood pressure. They may also have high levels of triglycerides in the blood, fat deposits that are related to heart disease.
My research has found that people with prediabetes can also have high blood pressure. They may also have high levels of triglycerides in the blood, fat deposits that are related to heart disease.
By avoiding these things while keeping your weight low, you will live longer and healthier.
Type 2 diabetes is not inevitable. I like to see prediabetes, no matter how serious, as a positive thing: discovering it gives us a chance to take control and avoid the worst.
Read on to find out how …
Prediabetes: What is it and how do you know if you are one of thirteen million at risk?
Diabetes does not develop overnight. It starts with very subtle “communication problems” within the cells of the body and can take years before it seriously affects your health. And that gives us a lot of time to do something about it.
But it is vital to understand if you may be at risk and how the problem develops.
Type 2 diabetes begins life as prediabetes, when blood sugars are abnormally high and, without lifestyle changes, full-blown disease can affect. In prediabetes, the hormone insulin, which transfers sugars from food to our blood, where it is used for energy, does not work as well as it should. Sugar stays in the blood, raising its levels above normal, but not high enough to develop type 2 diabetes or to cause obvious symptoms.
Which begs the question: if there are no symptoms, how do you know if you are at risk?
It is becoming increasingly clear that by detecting prediabetes and taking steps to safeguard future health, it is possible to prevent the disease before it arrives. And it doesn’t involve expensive drugs, surgeries, or treatments, just a few lifestyle tweaks that, with a little ardor and determination, anyone can do.
First of all, it’s worth taking a look at the free online questionnaire on the Diabetes UK website (diabetes.co.uk), which analyzes your personal risk of diabetes taking into account everything from family history and ethnicity to weight and diet. The results will give you an idea of whether prediabetes is something that should worry you now or in the future.
And if it’s a concern, your GP can arrange a blood test for you, which we’ll explain in more detail later.
But what is crucial is to be aware of the most important factors that can already put you in danger. Here’s how to see if your blood sugar levels are likely to reach the danger zone and what you can do about it.
Check your weight and waist
The biggest risk factor for prediabetes is excess body fat.
Research shows that the accumulation of fat around or in the organs can affect how the body’s cells respond to insulin, altering blood sugar control. Checking your body mass index, or BMI, gives a good indication of whether this could be happening.
According to studies, people who live with obesity, that is, who have a BMI of 30 or more, are up to 80 times more likely to develop diabetes than those who have a healthy BMI below 22. A BMI calculator is available on the NHS website. Anyone over the age of 25 is considered overweight.
Waist size is also a good indicator of the risk of diabetes because it is a sign of excess fat nearby or in organs such as the liver. This type of fat, known as ectopic fat, significantly impairs insulin function.
Men should have a waist less than 37 inches, while women should keep …