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Nursing Knowledge
Prediabetes is a state of impaired glucose metabolism in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. Many clients will already have insulin resistance when prediabetes is diagnosed.
Prediabetes indicates an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Note: You should know these by heart to recognize the red flags!
Prediabetes is diagnosed based on the following blood glucose levels:
Prediabetes lab values
| Normal values | Prediabetes | Diabetes type 2 | |
| Fasting blood sugar | < 100 mg/dL | 100–125 mg/dL | ≥ 126 mg/dL |
| Oral glucose tolerance test | < 140 mg/dL | 140–199 mg/dL | ≥ 200 mg/dL |
| HbA1c | <= 5.6% | 5.7% to 6.4% | >= 6.5% |
Patients may experience elevated glucose without additional symptoms and may be unaware of their condition. Symptoms may not appear until 50%–80% of the beta cells of the pancreas are damaged and not producing insulin as they should. Statistically, a person can have had type 2 diabetes for 6.5 years before getting diagnosed.
Prediabetes is the time when a change in behavior can have a huge positive impact, so structured interventions are important and can delay or prevent the development of diabetes.
Measures:
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