(NewsNation) — Nearly 98 million people in the United States over age 18 have prediabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s 38% of the U.S. adult population with higher-than-normal blood sugar levels.
Prediabetes is a condition in which one’s blood sugar level is above normal but not high enough to be considered Type 2 diabetes. Without lifestyle changes, it can develop into diabetes.
Most people with prediabetes don’t have any symptoms, but darkened skin, skin tags and changes in the eyes could be indicators.
The main cause of prediabetes results from a person being insulin resistant. Insulin resistance happens when cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond regularly to insulin, which is a hormone the pancreas makes to regulate blood sugar levels.
“Eating healthy foods, making physical activity part of your daily routine and staying at a healthy weight can help bring your blood sugar level back to normal,” Mayo Clinic said. “The same lifestyle changes that can help prevent Type 2 diabetes in adults might also help bring children’s blood sugar levels back to normal.”
To diagnose prediabetes, a doctor will conduct a blood test after the patient fasts for at least eight hours.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the results indicate:
- Less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) is normal.
- 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) is diagnosed as prediabetes.
- 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests is diagnosed as diabetes.
NewsNations Rob Taub contributed to this report.
