Blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes are now classified as pre-diabetes. This name replaces older terminology such as impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose—a change I applaud. I think the concept of pre-diabetes will make it easier for those at risk to thwart progression to frank diabetes.

Exciting evidence indicates that people with pre-diabetes can use simple, readily available means to return their blood glucose levels to the normal range. This can help prevent or delay complications that research has linked to both diabetes and the pre-diabetic state. Here, I've summarized the prominent features of pre-diabetes I think you need to know.

How Serious a Problem?

Research shows that people with pre-diabetes are at risk for the same complications that are seen with diabetes. These include impaired vision or blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage, and infections leading to leg amputations.

If you have pre-diabetes you may already be experiencing the adverse health effects of this serious condition. People with pre-diabetes have a 1.5-times increased risk of cardiovascular disease—including heart attack, stroke and arterial disease—compared to people with normal blood glucose. In contrast, people with diabetes have a 2- to 4- times increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Both diabetics and pre-diabetics are more likely to develop additional cardiac risk factors such as elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity.

An Epidemic of Diabetes

Lack of exercise and super-sized portions are fueling twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes in this country. In the past 10 years the incidence of obesity has increased 61 percent and new cases of diabetes have gone up 49 percent. The majority of Americans are now overweight and at risk for developing pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Both of these conditions make your body cells less sensitive to the effects of insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. This allows blood sugar levels to rise over time and can result in long-term damage to your body.

Detection of Pre-Diabetes

Millions of Americans are currently considered candidates for pre-diabetes and diabetes screening. Both conditions can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. During a routine office visit your doctor can order one of two tests:

Who Should Get Screened?

Experts from the American Diabetes Association and the National Institutes of Health recently developed screening guidelines for pre-diabetes. They recommend glucose testing every three years for people aged 45 or older who are overweight (BMI above 24). If you’re over age 45 but not overweight ask your doctor if testing is appropriate.

For those under age 45 and overweight, testing may be advisable if you have another risk factor for pre-diabetes. Risk factors include:

Care of Pre-Diabetes

If your glucose test indicates pre-diabetes you should have it repeated for accuracy. People with a diagnosis of pre-diabetes also need retesting every one to two years. Without intervention, studies show that most people with pre-diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years.

Fortunately, we know that people with pre-diabetes can delay or prevent the onset of diabetes with lifestyle changes. Experts recommend that people with pre-diabetes reduce their weight by 5-10% and engage in modest physical activity for 30 minutes most days of the week. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine followed a large group of pre-diabetics who made these changes. After an average follow-up of three years, they achieved nearly a 60% reduction in diabetes risk compared to only about a 30% reduction for those on medication.

I’d say it’s a powerful reason for anyone at risk for diabetes to control weight and exercise regularly—with your doctor’s okay of course.