Brazil is the country with the highest number of diabetes patients in South America. According to the latest IDF Atlas (International Diabetes Federation) data, 17 million people in the country are affected by the disease, and it is estimated that this number will reach 24 million in 25 years. There are 588 million adults with diabetes worldwide, 90% of whom have type 2 diabetes.
This Friday (14th) World Diabetes Day will be celebrated to raise awareness about the disease. And before type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, patients experience a stage that can be reversed with treatment: prediabetes.
Marilia Fonseca, medical director at pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, explains that prediabetes is an intermediate stage before diagnosis.
“This is a condition in which blood sugar levels are above normal, but not yet high enough to diagnose type 2 diabetes,” Professor Fonseca explains.
“This happens because either the body is starting to have difficulty using insulin efficiently, or the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin. In other words, this is not just ‘high sugar’, but an indication that the body is already having difficulty controlling glucose,” he added.
In addition to leading to the development of type 2 diabetes, studies have shown that prediabetes increases the risk of some types of cancer by 15%, cardiovascular risk by 20%, and kidney complications by 67%.
Is prediabetes a disease?
Yes, it is considered a disease and carries a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, vascular complications and cardiovascular disease, explains endocrinologist Marilia Fonseca.
“This should be seen as an important warning because it shows that sugar metabolism is already changing,” he added.
Is prediabetes a reversible condition?
Unlike diabetes, prediabetes can be reversed. Roberta Brito, medical manager for diabetes and obesity at Merck & Co., says you can normalize your blood sugar levels through lifestyle changes, a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and weight loss.
According to the SBD (Brazilian Diabetes Association), overweight or obese adults, especially those with a family history of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or polycystic ovary syndrome, should have their blood sugar tested annually, even if they have no symptoms. This recommendation also applies to people over 45 years of age.
What tests detect prediabetes and how to interpret the results?
The main tests are clinical tests and blood tests.
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Fasting blood sugar levels: 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates prediabetes.
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Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c): 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes.
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Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): 155-208 mg/dL after 1 hour. After 2 hours, 140-199 mg/dL indicates prediabetes.
“Being in the ‘gray range’ means that the result is above normal but not yet indicative of diabetic features. The closer you are to the upper limit, the higher the risk of developing diabetes,” Fonseca explains.
Are there any symptoms associated with prediabetes?
Guilherme Visconti, an endocrinologist at the Nove de Giulo Hospital, explains that risk factors include “obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, especially high intake of carbohydrates.” In addition to these, lack of sleep, chronic stress, and a family history of diabetes can also increase your chances of developing this condition.
He also highlighted the link to polycystic ovary syndrome “because this syndrome is accompanied by insulin resistance, which subsequently causes the patient’s blood sugar levels to rise.” “Another important factor is age. Older patients tend to have elevated blood sugar levels,” he says.
Women who have had gestational diabetes are also at higher risk of developing prediabetes in the years after pregnancy, Roberta Brito added.
Do you have any symptoms?
Although prediabetes may not cause any symptoms, it’s important to be aware of warning signs that indicate progression to diabetes, such as excessive thirst, excessive urination, increased hunger, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and frequent infections, Fonseca explains.
“The most common is a silent progression that is only detected by testing, hence the importance of regular medical monitoring,” he concludes.
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