6 Signs Of Prediabetes You Need To Know | Prevention

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Health DIABETES

6 Signs Of Prediabetes You Need To Know

APRIL 11, 2017 By ALANNA NUEZ

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Type 2 diabetes has long been on the risediagnoses increased fourfold

between 1980 and 2014so it makes sense that its lesser-known sibling,
prediabetes, is also increasing. But you might be surprised to learn that a
whopping 90% of people who have prediabetes don't know it. That's a problem,

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6 Signs Of Prediabetes You Need To Know | Prevention

because if you don't know you have it you likely aren't making the changes
needed to ward off the full-blown disease. (Here are 8 things you should do if
you're diagnosed with prediabetes.)

Prediabetes is a borderline condition in which your blood sugar is consistently

high but not high enough to be considered diabetes. The easiest way to
determine if you have it is to get a simple blood test. The most accurate one is
the A1C test, which determines the percentage of glucose (sugar) that's attached
to the oxygen-carrying protein hemoglobin in your blood.

"It's a good indicator of what your blood sugar has been like for the past two or
three months," says Loren Wissner Greene, MD, a clinical professor and
endocrinologist at NYU Langone Medical Center. A score of 5.9 and below is
considered normal. Anything between 5.7 and 6.4 is considered prediabetes,
and 6.4 and above is full-blown diabetes. (Eat to lower your cholesterol and
blood pressureand lose up to 25 pounds in the processwith this 8-week plan
from Prevention.)

Prevention Premium: 4 Steps To Reverse Diabetes Naturally

The American Diabetes Association recommends that everyone age 45 and older
get their blood sugar checked, though you might need to be tested earlier if
you're overweight, have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or have a family
history of diabetes. People who are African-American, Native American, Asian-
American, Latino, or Pacific Islander may also be at higher risk and need testing
earlier, so check with your doctor.

Although tests such as the A1C can certainly tell you if you're headed for trouble,
it's also important to pay attention to other clues. In some cases, even if your
test results come back normal, you might still be prediabetic. "Prediabetes is like
most 'pre' anythingnobody has an exact, precise definition," says Greene.
That's why red flags like excessive thirst and frequent urination are worth taking
seriously. Some other signs that warrant a call to your doctor, and probably a
blood sugar test, include:

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Shiny, scaly patches on your skin

If you're prediabetic, you might experience patches of reddish, brownish, or yellowish

skin called necrobiosis lipodica, according to Nebraska-based board-certified
dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD. "Your skin might have a shiny, scaly appearance,
be itchy, and you might have visible blood vessels," he says. Watch out for dark, velvety
patches on the skin as well; called acanthnosis nigricans, these could also indicate that
you have too much insulin in your blood. (Here are 6 other things your skin can tell you
about your health.)

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Gout

Gouta type of arthritis that forms when uric acid builds up in your body and forms
crystals in your joints, tendons, and bonesisn't just an old-fashioned disease of kings.
It's on the rise worldwide, and research has found that people who have it are more apt
to develop diabetes, probably because both conditions often crop up in people who are
obese.

MORE: How To Spot GoutBecause It's More Common Than You Think

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Thickened skin

Does your skin feel tight or waxy? This is known as digital sclerosis, and while it often
starts in the fingers or toes, it can spread to the entire body. It sometimes happens
when high blood sugar damages the blood vessels, Schlessinger says.

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Hair loss

There are a number of factors that can cause hair loss, including medications, genetics,
and stress, but Schlessinger says it's also associated with insulin resistance, which is
the hallmark of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance basically means that
you're having trouble using insulin effectively to move sugar from the blood into your
cells, so you end up with high blood sugar levels. (Try these 7 foods that stop hair loss.)

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Extreme fatigue

While it's normal to occasionally feel a bit draggy, it's not normal to constantly struggle
to make it through the day. Insulin resistance could be to blame, because if sugar
lingers in your bloodstream it's not going into your cells where it's used for energy.

MORE: 7 Reasons Youre Tired All The Time

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What you can do

If your doctor tells you that you have prediabetes, don't panic. About 5 to 10% of people
with prediabetes will be diagnosed with diabetes annually, but there are many steps
you can take to avoid being part of that group. For starters, watch what's on your plate:
Greene recommends following the Mediterranean diet, which is loaded with
vegetables, fish, legumes, and healthy fats. (Try these 4 surprisingly rich
Mediterranean recipes that burn fat.) You should also make exercise a priority. A Duke
University study published in 2016 found that even moderate-intensity exercise, such
as brisk walking, can lower and stabilize your blood sugar.

Once you make some changes to your diet and exercise habits, excess pounds will likely
start to come offwhich is definitely a good thing. A 2013 study from Johns Hopkins
University found that people with prediabetes who lost just 10% of their body weight
within six months of being diagnosed slashed their risk of developing diabetes within
three years by an impressive 85%.

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