When you visit your doctor for an annual checkup, they likely remind you to maintain your diet, exercise regularly, and keep an eye out for any unusual symptoms that develop. They offer this advice to ward off conditions like prediabetes. To better understand this illness and how to prevent it, consult the guide below. 

What Doctors Want You to Know About Prediabetes

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes is the precursor to type 2 diabetes. It’s characterized by unusually high blood-sugar levels that have not yet reached diabetic status. 

What are the risk factors of prediabetes?

Risk factors for this condition include being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, doing little or no exercise regularly, experiencing gestational diabetes during pregnancy, or being over the age of 45. If you have any of these risk factors, your doctor should check you at least twice a year. 

Is it possible to reverse the condition?

Unlike traditional diabetes, the preliminary stages are reversible. Once your doctor notices an increase in your blood sugar levels, they’ll prescribe a new diet and exercise regimen that suits your lifestyle and decreases your chances of developing the condition. Just losing 5% of your body weight has been proven to prevent diabetes.

What are the risks of prediabetes?

Unfortunately, many people underestimate the seriousness of this condition because it isn’t considered a full-blown case of diabetes. However, even prediabetes puts you at risk for issues like heart disease and stroke, which is why you should treat it as soon as possible. 

If you’re concerned about your blood sugar levels, talk to the board-certified doctors at Kona-Kohala Health Care Services. Located in Kailua-Kona, HI, Dr. Donald Nikaitani and Dr. Richard Pekala offer a range of primary care services to ensure optimum health for all their patients. Visit their website to learn more about their practice, and call (808) 329-1346 to schedule an appointment today.