Hello, I am Ty Mason of thediabetescouncil.com, researcher, writer and I have type 2 diabetes.
I want to emphasize that my perspective is coming from one with Type 2 and not Type 1.
Our channel is primarily for those with Type 2 Diabetes and PreDiabetes.
Today I want to talk about why is it important to know if a person has prediabetes.
After you watch the video today, I invite you check out the description box for my new
ebook.
This is one of the most comprehensive diabetes meal planning book you can find.
It contains diabetes friendly meals/recipes, recipes for different goals such as 800-1800
calories per day meal plan, diabetes meal planning tips and tricks.
There are also tons of diabetes friendly recipes for everyone!
This is a great question.
And I have thought of several different ways to approach it.
But I have narrowed it down to 2.
I will first look at why it is important for YOU to know and then why it is important for
others to know.
First, let's define what "pre-diabetes" is and is not.
Diabetes is defined as having a fasting plasma blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or greater
on two separate occasions.
If diabetes symptoms exist and you have a casual blood glucose taken at any time that
is equal to or greater than 200 mg/dl, and a second test shows the same high blood glucose
level, then you have diabetes.
In general, people who have a fasting plasma blood glucose in the 100-125 mg/dl range are
defined as having impaired fasting glucose.
If your doctor gives you an oral glucose tolerance test, and at two-hours your blood glucose
is 140-199 mg/dl, you have "impaired glucose tolerance".
Either of these is medical terminology for what your doctor is probably referring to
when he says you have "pre-diabetes."
The foremost authority (in my opinion) on anything diabetes related is the Joslyn Diabetes
Center and they offer this piece of advice.
Be sure to ask your doctor what your exact blood sugar test results are when he tells
you that you have "pre-diabetes."
Some physicians are not as familiar as they should be with the new national guidelines
for diagnosing diabetes.
They may be telling you that you have pre-diabetes, when in fact you have actual diabetes.
So to answer the question.
The main reason I think YOU need to know if you have pre-diabetes is so that you can take
the steps necessary to hopefully keep it from becoming diabetes.
This is the main reason why anyone should know if they have pre-diabetes.
Who is at a higher risk of having prediabetes?
According the Joslyn Diabetes Center, among those who should be screened for pre-diabetes
include overweight adults age 45 and older and those under age 45 who are overweight
and who have one or more of the following risk factors:
are habitually physically inactive have previously been identified as having
IFG (impaired fasting glucose) or IGT (impaired glucose tolerance)
have a family history of diabetes are members of certain ethnic groups (including
Asian American, African-American, Hispanic American, and Native American)
have had gestational diabetes or have given birth to a child weighing more than 9 pounds
have elevated blood pressure have an HDL cholesterol level (the “good”
cholesterol) of 35 mg/dl or lower and/or triglyceride level of 250 mg/dl or higher
have polycystic ovary syndrome have a history of vascular disease
If you fall within these categories you should be screened as soon as possible.
Then you can get a plan together to prevent any further damage.
I also think your family and friends should know that you have prediabetes.
They can be a great source of support and comfort during this lifestyle transition that
WILL take place one way or another.
But most of all, if you do find out you have prediabetes, there is good news.
With the right diet and physical activity you can prevent it from becoming diabetes
and some of the ill effects that comes from the disease.
Don’t forget to get my new ebook and please, subscribe to our channel for many more videos
like this one in the future.
Thanks for watching.
I am Ty Mason.