Diabetes – seems like we’re all pretty familiar with it already. It is typically characterised by a high sugar (or glucose) level in the blood. Someone with diabetes is either producing too little insulin or unable to respond well to the insulin produced. We’ve heard horror stories about not managing this chronic disease – but did you know that there’s such a thing called prediabetes too?
Well, if your answer is ‘no’ – you’re not the only one.
-
Yes, Prediabetes is a thing
Although it doesn’t get as much attention as diabetes itself does, many people with type 2 diabetes often first have prediabetes, without even realising it. Prediabetes is when your blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
As mentioned in the term itself (‘pre-‘), this borderline stage may just be the best chance for intervention before things take a turn for the worse.
-
Prediabetes is reversible!
Unlike type 2 diabetes, prediabetes is still reversible (celebrate while you can!). With the right lifestyle changes, a prediabetic individual can prevent progression to type 2 diabetes, or even return his/her blood sugar level to a normal state.
According to a study done by John Hopkins Medicine, a 5 percent loss in body weight reduces the risk of diabetes by more than half. For a person who weighs 80 kg, that’s only 4 kg to lose!
-
By 2035, 1 in 4 Singaporeans will be prediabetic
Without proper intervention, 1 in 4 prediabetic individuals will progress to type 2 diabetes in 8 years. And yes, that’s how vulnerable we are to both diabetes and prediabetes.
-
It has no symptoms
The only way to find out if you have prediabetes is through a health screening. Hence, many cases go undetected. The most common way of detection involves blood tests, such as a Fasting Blood Glucose test and/or followed by an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT).
-
You can sign up for a FREE fasting blood glucose test from now till 16 March
No, we’re not kidding! Our friends at Take A Prediabetest has hooked us up by partnering two neighbourhood clinics – Zenith Medical Clinic and Trucare Medical Clinic and Surgery. Here, you can sign up for your prediabetic test before 16 March at https://www.whatisprediabetes.co/take-action/!
If you’re still unsure, our friends at Take A Prediabetest headed down to one of the clinics to show you what happens during a prediabetest in 90 seconds! You can check the video out here: