Prediabetes Symptoms

Identifying the symptoms of prediabetes earlier on gives you a better chance of reversing the onset of type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms of prediabetes?

For the vast majority of patients, there are symptoms of pre-diabetes.

Often the condition develops over time without any noticeable symptoms or warning signs. Due to this, a lot of people only learn they are prediabetic when the first symptoms of type 2 diabetes appear.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:

Fatigue or tiredness
Feelings of hunger, particularly after a meal
Having the need to urinate often
Feeling abnormally thirsty
Blurred vision
Itching of the skin, often around the genitalia
Slow healing of cuts or wounds
Having regular yeast infections
Having a skin disorder such as psoriasis or acanthosis nigricans
Sudden weight loss or loss of muscle mass

As mentioned, because the symptoms of prediabetes come on subtly, it can be hard to identify how at-risk you are of developing the condition. Identifying some of the risk factors can be a vital way of understanding the possibility of getting prediabetes.

Risk factors of prediabetes

You should be tested for prediabetes if you:

Have a high body mass index (bmi) are overweight or obese
If a close family member (a parent or sibling) currently has diabetes
Have high blood pressure, low HDL ("good" cholesterol) or high triglycerides
Are over the age of 40
Have given birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds

Although prediabetes is indiscriminate and can affect anyone, regardless of their age, gender or racial type, some groups are more genetically predisposed to get the condition, including:

Afro-Caribbean
South Asian
Native American

Stopping prediabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes

The good news is that through lifestyle changes you can prevent your prediabetes from progressing into type 2 diabetes.

Adopting a lifestyle that includes regular exercise and following a healthy diet can help your blood glucose settle back to normal.

In particular, a diet low in carbohydrates has been clinically proven to lower blood sugar levels and even help people with type 2 diabetes put their condition into remission.

If you’re interested in following a low-carb diet, the Low Carb Program is an award-winning app approved by the NHS that can provide you with live support and education to help you make the transition to a healthier lifestyle.

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