All About Prediabetes

2023-08-16

This educational content related to prediabetes was created in partnership with ADCES, a founding partner of Beyond Type 2.

What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar or A1C levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

The rate of people being diagnosed with prediabetes has been increasing sharply for many years in Canada and across the globe.

Diabetes Canada offers the following statistics about prediabetes:

An estimated 5.7 million adults in Canada—22.1 percent of the Canadian population—have prediabetes.
Having prediabetes puts you at risk of developing T2D.
If left untreated, more than half of Canadians with prediabetes will develop T2D within eight to 10 years.

According to a 2019 study, 37.3% of Canadians with T2D do not know they have it.

A 2012 study projected that more than 470 million people worldwide will have prediabetes by 2030.

People with prediabetes are at increased risk of developing T2D and cardiovascular disease, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Screening for Prediabetes:

Prediabetes can be determined using your A1C, measuring your fasting blood sugar, or through an oral glucose tolerance test. Each test uses a specific range to determine if your blood sugar levels are high enough to qualify for a diagnosis of prediabetes.

A1C: Measures your average blood sugar over the previous three months.

Prediabetes range: 6.0 to 6.4 percent

Fasting Blood Sugar: Your blood sugar sample after fasting overnight or after at least eight hours.

Prediabetes range: 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L110 to 124 mg/dL

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: It is used to diagnose gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. You drink a sweet drink and then your blood sugar is tested two hours later.

Prediabetes range: 7.8 mmol/L140 mg/dL to 11.0 mmol/L198 mg/dL

Learn about Managing Prediabetes:

Diagnosed with prediabetes? You are not alone. While a prediabetes diagnosis can be overwhelming and worrying, you have the power to make the lifestyle changes to return your blood glucose levels back to normal.

Use these resources on how to manage prediabetes to prevent or delay the onset of T2D, including information about the link between polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and diabetes, the National Diabetes Prevention Program and healthy cooking.