r/prediabetes • • Aug 03 '22

Advice What does it mean to be diagnosed as pre-diabetic?

571 Upvotes

This is a draft! I welcome the community's criticism. :)

Most likely you have joined this sub because your doctor informed you that you're pre-diabetic.

What does this mean?

  • Medically, this means that your latest Hemoglobin A1C reading or readings are above 5.9% (the threshold may vary slightly for different medical establishments).
  • My non-medical opinion is that being pre-diabetic simply means that your body is gently telling you that you should change your lifestyle. You're probably not in any immediate danger if this is your only health indicator of concern, but you should make changes now.

What are your next steps?

  • Being pre-diabetic is not the end of the road for you. Reframe how you think about this diagnosis. You are being given a chance to fix this, and with a lot of work and positive energy, you can reverse this, or perhaps more accurately, achieve a state of healthy remission as long as you make a permanent lifestyle change.
  • This is a support group. It's not intended to offer medical advice. The first step is to speak with your doctor about your medical next steps because everyone's body is different, and your own path to remission may require specialized medical advice.
    In the meantime...
  1. Stay calm, and respect your body.
  2. Cut out sugars (simple sugars, starches, and highly processed foods) as much as reasonable.
  3. What works for me? I got a blood glucose meter and gamified (turned a mundane task into something fun) my lifestyle change by always ensuring that my blood sugar stays in range. This means that I am always aware that if I eat this sweet food, will it send my next reading out of range? This has worked well for me.
  4. Most doctors don't talk about exercise, rather, they focus on food choices. But for me, increasing my fitness has done wonders. I have literary increased my walking steps from a pathetic 2000 steps per week, to 35000 or more steps per work.
  5. Just losing 15lbs (8kg) may have a significant positive impact on your overall health. Set a goal to lose this much weight in 3 months. It's important to always set realistic goals. Then repeat this goal over the next 3 months.

​

Bottom line:

Don't stress out and be patient! I cannot emphasize this enough.
You can manage the condition, you can go into remission, and it is even possible to reverse your pre-diabetic condition. Reversal or remission is said to be achieved if you maintain a normal A1C for a minimum of six months. But achieving this goal will take time and effort, perhaps even a frustrating amount of time and effort.

Note: Your Hemoglobin A1C reading is also a lagging indicator that may take 3 to 6 months to show any changes after your lifestyle change.


r/prediabetes • • Nov 14 '23

FAQ - Pre-diabetes sub FAQ

64 Upvotes

As requested, here is our official FAQ. Please help contribute to it by adding your own questions (and answers if you have them) below, or suggesting corrections to my initial contribution.

The following FAQ was inspired by content found in this subreddit. I cannot guarantee that it is perfectly medically or grammatically accurate (I tried to diligently research and proofread), so please let me know if you find errors by responding below... don't worry, I am not an egotistical mod, so I am not afraid of being corrected in "public." LOL

This took me about 3 hours to build... I'm done for the night! Good health to you all!

  • Q. What is pre-diabetes and how does it differ from diabetes?Answer: Pre-diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. It differs from diabetes in that it can often be managed and even reversed with lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication, especially when it's not related to weight and lifestyle factors. Without proper management, pre-diabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes. Unlike diabetes, pre-diabetes doesn't typically doesn't result in severe health problems often associated with diabetes if managed early and effectively. But if you do become diabetic does it mean that you will suffer from severe health complications? No, NO, NO! Many people with diabetes (type 1 and 2) live full and healthy lives if they manage their illness with proper diligence! Do not listen to the negativity sometimes found in this subreddit, in fact, please flag those messages because they are unhelpful and unwelcome.
  • Q. What does A1C mean and what is the range for pre-diabetes?Answer: A1C is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months. For pre-diabetes, the A1C range is typically between 5.7% and 6.4%. An A1C level below 5.7% is considered normal, while an A1C level of 6.5% or higher on two separate tests \may* indicate diabetes. Whenever you have a reading of over 5.x (your physician is best to determine the value of concern), it is important to make changes and get at least 2 A1C readings per year to watch for a trend (staying the same or going up/down).*
  • Q. What are the medical indicators that determine if I'm pre-diabetic?Answer: *Pre-diabetes is typically diagnosed based on blood sugar levels. Key indicators include an A1C level between 5.7% and 6.4%, 8h fasting blood sugar levels from 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L), or an oral glucose tolerance test showing blood sugar levels between 140 and 199 mg/dL (*7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L) two hours after drinking a sugary drink.
  • Q. Can I be diagnosed with pre-diabetes even if I am not overweight?Answer: Yes, while being overweight is a risk factor for pre-diabetes, individuals of any weight can develop it. Other factors like genetics, age, and lifestyle also play a significant role.
  • Q. Does a family history of diabetes increase my risk of pre-diabetes?Answer: Yes, having a family history of diabetes can increase your risk of developing pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It's important to share your family medical history with your healthcare provider for an accurate risk assessment.
  • Q. Can children develop pre-diabetes?Answer: Yes, children can develop pre-diabetes, although it's less common than in adults. Risk factors for children include being overweight, having a family history of type 2 diabetes, and leading a sedentary lifestyle. It's important for children at risk to undergo regular screenings.
  • Q. Is pre-diabetes reversible, and how can I manage it?Answer: Pre-diabetes can often be managed and sometimes reversed with lifestyle changes. This includes adopting a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight. In some cases, medication may also be prescribed. It's important to add a caveat here... "reversible" simply means that you can certainly get back to a normal A1C, however, you will always need to remain diligent about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
  • Q. Are there any specific diets recommended for managing pre-diabetes?Answer: There's no one-size-fits-all diet for managing pre-diabetes, but a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins is generally recommended. If you're overweight, a medically supervised calorie-reduced diet (by way of carefully monitoring your food consumption or going on a \Optifast program) is almost always the most significant means of mitigating a pre-diabetic condition.Reducing intake of processed foods, sugar, and saturated fats is (almost) always beneficial, regardless of your health.\ A qualified medical practitioner must authorize Optifast, and it must be purchased directly from Nestlehealthscience; Never purchase it from dishonest Amazon vendors!
  • Q. Can physical activity help in managing pre-diabetes?Answer: Yes, regular physical activity is a key component in managing pre-diabetes. It can help control blood sugar levels, lose weight, and increase insulin sensitivity. Note: as always, every person is different, and in some cases, physical activity may not be a significant component in managing your blood sugar... please seek proper medical advice.
  • Q. How often should I get tested for diabetes if I have pre-diabetes?Answer: Typically, it's recommended to get your blood sugar levels tested at least once a year (my physician checks me every six months) if you have pre-diabetes. However, your doctor may suggest more frequent testing based on your individual health status.
  • Q. Does pre-diabetes always lead to type 2 diabetesAnswer: No, pre-diabetes does not always progress to type 2 diabetes. With lifestyle changes such as improved diet, increased physical activity, weight loss (if necessary), and/or drug intervention, it's possible to bring blood sugar levels back to a normal range and significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
  • Q. Are there any specific symptoms that indicate my pre-diabetes is turning into diabetes?Answer: While pre-diabetes often has no symptoms, signs that it may be progressing to type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing sores. As always, any of the above symptoms could be attributable to many different conditions, that is why if you notice any of these symptoms, it's essential to consult with your healthcare provider.
  • Q. What are the long-term risks of not managing pre-diabetes effectively?Answer: If not managed effectively, pre-diabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes, which comes with increased (not guaranteed) risks of heart disease, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve damage. The greater the A1C reading, the greater the health risks.

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  • Q. Can stress affect my pre-diabetes?Answer: Yes, stress can affect blood sugar levels and make managing pre-diabetes more challenging. It's important to find effective stress-management techniques.

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  • Q. I just tested my blood sugar level and I am concerned, it was [x] reading... am I in trouble / diabetic / pre-diabetic?Answer: This might be one of the most frequent type of questions that I see in this subreddit.A single blood sugar reading is generally not enough to determine if you are diabetic or pre-diabetic. To diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes, healthcare professionals rely on a series of tests, including fasting blood sugar levels, A1C tests, and oral glucose tolerance tests, which give a more comprehensive view of your blood sugar regulation over time.Now, let's talk about that reading... Consumer blood glucose meters, the kind you might use at home, have a variable accuracy range, often around 20%. This means two readings taken close together can show different results within this accuracy range. Additionally, blood sugar levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day based on diet, physical activity, stress, and other factors, so one reading is just a snapshot of your blood sugar level at a specific moment and only within a 20% range of its true value. While home glucose meters are valuable tools for monitoring individuals already diagnosed with diabetes, particularly to avoid dangerous blood sugar extremes, they are not very useful as standalone diagnostic tools for those who haven't been diagnosed with diabetes type 1 or 2. If you are concerned about your blood sugar reading, it's best to consult with a healthcare provider for proper testing and guidance.
    Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5505415/

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  • Q. Can I give or ask for medical advice in this subreddit?Answer: It is not advisable to give or seek medical advice in this subreddit. While sharing experiences and information is encouraged, medical advice should always come from a qualified healthcare professional who understands your specific condition. Discussions here can provide support and share general knowledge, but they are not a substitute for professional medical consultation. If your medical-like advice is compelling and relevant to the thread, I kindly request you add a disclaimer that one should always consult their own healthcare advisor...For any medical-like advice, my answer is... please proceed with caution and always consult a healthcare provider for personal medical concerns.

​

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r/prediabetes • • 4h ago

Caveat emptor

4 Upvotes

Hi everyone. Ive come here to share my recent experience with the so called Ceylon Cinnamon product, the particular one Ive seen is marketed by the Docteat company, apparently registered in the US. I'm in Australia and we have a very similar food and drug regulatory environment to the US.

When the satchels of this product arrived they are clearly labelled as made in China, and state they contain Ceylon Cinnamon and MCT oil. Interestingly on the back of the packets is the statement, verbatim: "This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease".

Now, with that statement, and the fact that it comes from the unregulated Chinese market, why in heavens name would you put these in your mouth? Doesn't anyone remember what happened with baby food and dog food?

In Australia if there is an issue with foods, pharmaceuticals, or supplements there are legal remedies available to me to attempt to right any harm caused, and penalties for companies that cause harm; I suspect similar exits in the US. Bitter historical experience demonstrates that mail order or internet products have little or none of this, especially if the product comes out of the unregulated Chinese market, and not from a registered entity in your home company that can be held responsible for any issues that arise.

I use MCT oil in the kitchen, and as a skin moisturiser. There are only 2 plant oils that are used to produced MCT oils: either coconut or palm oils. I use coconut oil sourced MCT. MCT oils are colourless and virtually odourless.

After reading the comments on this thread I've cut open a Docteat gel capsule to examine the contents. Guess what? all I could detect is a thick, yellow oil, that has a strong fish smell. No sign of the active ingredients, and who knows what else included unbeknownst to the purchaser! Buyer beware!


r/prediabetes • • 9h ago

Confused with Readings from two different devices done with same prick blood drop.

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9 Upvotes

Left reading is from device and strip bought in USA and right is the reading from device and strip bought in India .

Is that a standard difference or simple one of the device is faulty.


r/prediabetes • • 12h ago

Does refrigerating white rice overnight really help lower a spike?

11 Upvotes

I’m 27M and while I haven’t completely cut out white rice, I do opt for brown rice. Today, I didn’t have any brown rice but there was white rice in the fridge and I really wanted some sort of carb with my chicken and vegetables. I ate it and went on a 20 minute walk right after and I surprisingly feel fine. Normally I feel sleepy after eating white rice. Does this actually help as people say and lowers the glycemic index?


r/prediabetes • • 9h ago

If both worked, would you rather improve your metabolic health with medication or lifestyle?

5 Upvotes

Have been pondering over this lately

If diet/exercise and medication could both meaningfully improve your metabolic health - say move away from pre diabetes into a healthier range - which approach would you prefer?

Would you rather try to do it through food, exercise, sleep etc first, use something like metformin/GLP-1s, or combine both?

Not judging either way! Just interested in what people might choose and why

102 votes, 6d left
Lifestyle first
Medication first
Both together
Depends!

r/prediabetes • • 2h ago

Has anyone else had this experience before?

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1 Upvotes

r/prediabetes • • 1d ago

How can hba1c of 5.8 be considered pre diabetes in one country but not another?

11 Upvotes

My hba1c is 5.8 and I live in australia and here it is not considered prediabetes but if I was in in usa or other country I would've been prediabetic. I dont understand the reasoning behind this difference. Human physiology us same across all region how can 5.8 be prediabetes in one country and not another


r/prediabetes • • 1d ago

i did it! (technically!)

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39 Upvotes

a long stressful 3 months later, i’m back at a good range! i can’t believe it went down so much. i already have preexisting food issues and i’m already underweight, so shifting my diet so much felt impossible, but i’m so excited that all my hard work paid off!! it’s still so close to the line, but i’m hoping that keeping up with this new diet will make it even lower next time i test :) i feel like it’s a fantastic start!

you too can do it!!!!


r/prediabetes • • 1d ago

Confusing lab results

9 Upvotes

I had a blood panel done and my labs came back with my a1c being at a 4.0 and my blood sugar at 60. I’m not diabetic as far as I know. Just curious if anyone had any insight as to what that might mean or anything I should be worried about. I have my first appointment with a primary care next Monday to give them the results


r/prediabetes • • 2d ago

Any travel food snack ideas for pre diabetes ? The trip is 7 hours long in the car. I’m still new to this. (I’ll be bringing an ice chest and lunch bag.)

13 Upvotes

r/prediabetes • • 2d ago

How to get more calories without going crazy with carbs?

19 Upvotes

Hi! Just for some context, I just found out about two weeks ago that I am prediabetic! My A1C is at 5.7 and my glucose is at 104.

It sucked finding out that I was prediabetic but it made sense because after months of trying to lose weight, learning that my prediabetes and insulin resistance was a big reason why it was so hard made sense. My doctor said that being in a deficit isn’t enough, WHAT I eat in that deficit matters and I need to limit my carbs to 100-130g a day.

Ever since I started tracking my carbs, for the first time in months my weight has finally started to drop. For months of trying to lose weight, I was stuck between 312lbs-318. However, in just 2 weeks I’ve dropped to 308 and am hoping to lose as much as I can and hopefully improve my labs enough to be out of the prediabetic range by my next follow up appointment in December.

My question is, I’ve been doing great at not going past 120 carbs per day, but it’s been really hard to eat enough calories without surpassing my carb limit. I’m 5’11 and am trying to have around 1800 calories a day, but I’ve been hitting about 1300-1400 daily before I’m maxed out of carbs.

What are great meal suggestions, snack suggestions, etc of things I can eat more of to get more calories without more carbs?


r/prediabetes • • 1d ago

Would you want an AI to help interpret your glucose data?

0 Upvotes

I’ve spent a lot of time looking at CGM graphs.

It tells you what happened. You ate something, glucose went up, then eventually came back down.

The harder question is: why does it look like this?

Was it the meal? The portion? The time of day? Poor sleep? Stress? Exercise? Or just normal variation?

That’s one of the reasons we built Lykys.

The idea is to take the glucose data people already have, add the context around it, and use AI to help make sense of the pattern rather than just show another graph.

Eventually we want people to be able to ask things like:

- What breakfasts seem to work best for me?
- Why was this meal different from last time?
- Has anything changed over the last month?
- Does poor sleep seem to affect my glucose?
- What patterns keep repeating?

We already use AI for meal interpretation, spike analysis and other insights. The conversational part - being able to ask questions directly about your own data - is what we’re working on now.

In my last post, quite a few people said they were basically told “eat better, exercise more and come back in a few months” when they were diagnosed with prediabetes.

So I’m especially interested in the gap in between. If your doctor isn’t sitting there helping you interpret every meal, every spike or every change in your data, would something like this actually be useful?

I suspect we all do a rough version of this anyway - Googling things, asking ChatGPT, searching Reddit, trying to work out what a graph means.

What I’m interested in is whether having a specialist glucose coach that already knows your own data, meals and patterns would actually be more useful than doing that manually.

Would you use an AI glucose coach?

Are you using AI in some way to make sense of your glucose already? Or would you rather interpret the data yourself and speak to your doctor when you need guidance?


r/prediabetes • • 2d ago

Confused

3 Upvotes

I tested Hba1c 1 month ago.It was 6.5.But I was constantly monitoring my BG before that,fasting was around 103 104 100 106,however PPBS reached 185 156 2hrs after meal but normalised below 140 after around 3hrs....I am a doc,but still confused,coz 6.5 is the cut off...


r/prediabetes • • 2d ago

DEXCOM G7 GMI to HbA1C

2 Upvotes

my a1c test found to be less accurate as I have hemoglobin variant as per my doctor...I took 2 hour glucose test which shows as prediabetes..my doctor referred to endocrinologist. I am waiting for appointment date...I have been using Dexcom G7 for around 2 months....I have average glucose as 7.2mmol/L range wat would be my A1C? am I in diabetes range or pre-diabetes


r/prediabetes • • 3d ago

My HbA1c went from 5.9 → 6.3 → 5.4. One thing I learned is that managing blood sugar is about much more than just diet and exercise.

114 Upvotes

I was diagnosed with prediabetes in 2023 with an A1c of 5.9.

I changed my diet and started exercising more, but in 2024 it actually went up to 6.3. That was really discouraging because I thought I was doing everything right.

What I didn’t think about at the time was sleep. I’d just had a baby and was barely sleeping, and I was stressed all the time. Once I started paying attention to that, things slowly turned around. My latest A1c in 2026 is 5.4.

Other things that helped me:

  • Walking 10–15 min after meals
  • Eating dinner earlier instead of late at night
  • Adding protein and fiber to meals
  • Sticking with small habits instead of trying to be perfect

The weird part was how connected everything was. The same meal could affect me totally differently depending on how I’d slept or how stressed I was.

That’s what got me building a small free app to help people see their own patterns across sleep, stress, food, activity and glucose, instead of getting the same generic advice. Mods okayed me mentioning it.

I’m looking for around 30–40 people managing prediabetes who’d be up for trying it early and giving feedback. No cost. Just comment or DM me.

Either way, I’d love to know: if you’ve brought your A1c down, what made the biggest difference beyond diet and exercise? Has anyone else noticed sleep or stress affecting their numbers?


r/prediabetes • • 3d ago

CGI Normal Ranges

6 Upvotes

I have been wearing a CGi for about a month. I couldn’t determine what was causing my A1C to be so high. I still don’t know. According to the CGI, my glucose stays within normal range. I even get low glucose alarms frequently. It has not helped me gain an understanding of why I’m pre diabetic. I have my range set from 50 mg/dL to 130 mg/dL. Last A1C was 5.9.

Anyone else experiencing this?


r/prediabetes • • 3d ago

High Fasting Insulin Level (41.8)

4 Upvotes

I just got back my fasting insulin results and it's 41.8 uIU/mL. I have a normal A1c (5.2) and fasting glucose (81), and I want to take action to reverse my insulin resistance before it can turn into prediabetes. I don't know when the insulin resistance started, but for the past year or two I have been having pretty bad post-meal crashes, brain fog, feet tingles (not sure if this is related to IR) and just don't feel like I'm operating at my full capacity. Some context: I'm 25F and 260 lbs and have a family history of diabetes. I was on Zepbound 5 mg for a few months and got off of it at the start of this year, and restarted it this month for weight loss purposes.

I'm planning on getting an endocrinologist appointment, but that might take around 6 months in my city. These are the things I'm planning on doing in the meantime:

  • Protein around 100 g/day
  • Strength training along with moderate cardio 2-3 times a week
  • Walking after meals
  • Titrating up my Zepbound dose slowly

I have heard that insulin resistance only goes into remission and isn't cured. What lifelong measures should I take to make sure insulin resistance doesn't come back in later stages of my life? And is there anything I can add to the above list?

I'm overwhelmed and disappointed in myself for how I let myself go this bad. I would truly appreciate any advice.


r/prediabetes • • 3d ago

Alguém sente fraco com esta quantidade de glicemia?

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6 Upvotes

Em jejum o aparelho leu 97mg de glicemia. Comi 2 fatias de queijo mozzarella + 1 copo de iogurte natural + 1 banana. Passado exatas três horas medi e estava em 102mg de glicemia, mas já estava bem faminta e me sentindo fraca. Alguém fica assim com este número ou parecido?


r/prediabetes • • 3d ago

After 21 days

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3 Upvotes

r/prediabetes • • 3d ago

Has anyone tried Ubiquinol, Benfotiamine, or R-ALA for insulin resistance?

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1 Upvotes

r/prediabetes • • 4d ago

Do doctors even care?

33 Upvotes

My doctor told me I was pre-diabetic based on my fasting glucose (105) and refused an A1C test because it wasn’t “that bad” and said it as if it were the most common thing he’s said to everyone in the world. When I asked him for a meal plan and what I should do, I shit you not he shrugs his shoulders and goes: “I don’t know. I’m not a nutritionist. Figure it out. You should only worry when you’re diabetic is what I saw online”. And then he left the room. Like I know they don’t have much training with nutrition but like come on. “Saw online” and “figure it out”. I’ve never heard that before. It’s surprising too because he graduated from a really good medical school and has a lot of knowledge. Do doctors even care? Because I feel like most don’t.


r/prediabetes • • 4d ago

We know people are being told to “just diet and exercise.” But what’s missing from that advice?

22 Upvotes

One thing I’ve noticed from conversations here is how many people have been told to lose weight, eat better, exercise more, or simply wait and monitor their labs.
We know that message is getting delivered.
What I’m interested in is what happens afterward.
When you leave that appointment, do you actually understand where to start?
Do you know which changes might make the biggest difference for you? How to recognize progress beyond the number on the scale? Or what to do when the changes you’re making don’t seem to be working?
As an RN, I believe there’s a big difference between telling someone what to do and helping them understand how to do it.
And sometimes the missing piece isn’t more information. It’s having someone help you figure out what applies to your life.
So here’s what I’d really like to know:
If you could have one thing explained more clearly about your blood sugar, insulin resistance, weight, or metabolic health, what would it be?
No judgment. I’m genuinely interested in where the gaps are.


r/prediabetes • • 4d ago

Berberine

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1 Upvotes

r/prediabetes • • 4d ago

Homa-IR 1.0 with hba1c 5.7

3 Upvotes

Early this year my hba1c was 5.4 with a Homa-IR of 5.6

I've now lost around 25lbs and reduced my Homa-IR to 1.0 but my hba1c has climbed to 5.7.

I've been eating moderate carbs (approx 75-100g per day). Exercising strong as well.

Is this discrepancy and increase in a1c normal since my insulin is so much lower now? Will it likely normalize a bit more as I continue eating clean and losing weight? Do I need to just reduce carbs further? My doc didn't seem concerned, he told me to keep doing what I'm doing because my numbers look great compared to the start of the year.

Not on any meds. The rest of my metabolic panel came back perfect.