Prediabetes: What You Need to Know

One in three American adults has prediabetes. Nearly 90% of them don’t even know they have it.

What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a condition where a person’s blood sugar is high, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes puts a person on the road leading to diabetes, but also raises their risk of heart disease and stroke.

Why Don’t People Know They Have It?

Prediabetes don’t have obvious symptoms like diabetes. They only way to know if you have prediabetes is a blood test.

Are There Risk Factors?

Prediabetes has risk factors, some that you can control and some you can’t. Age (over 40) and genetics (family history of diabetes) factor in to prediabetes risk. A history of gestational diabetes can also raise your risk. But, a sedentary lifestyle, having high blood pressure, and being overweight or obese are risk factors that you can control.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk?

Without making any changes, many people with prediabetes with develop diabetes within 5 years. Making changes are key to reducing the risk. Exercise, weight loss, and diet changes are key to reducing your risk of prediabetes and ultimately type 2 diabetes.

For so many people, weight loss doesn’t come easy, sometimes even after diet changes and exercise. If you have prediabetes or are at risk for prediabetes, and are overweight or obese and have tried to lose weight but have been unsuccessful, bariatric surgery may be an option. Gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band surgery have been proven to successfully induce weight loss, and in many cases can reverse type 2 diabetes.

If you or a loved one is considering gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or gastric band surgery, call Dr. Shillingford, MD at (561) 483-8840 to schedule a free informational session to learn more about each surgery and which one may be right for you. Dr. Shillingford, MD, PA is a board certified surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic and weight loss surgery. His gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band surgery patients receive top notch care in Northwest Medical Center’s Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery. His gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients travel not only from local areas like Delray Beach, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale, but also from further distances such as Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Jacksonville. Call Dr. Shillingford today at (561) 483-8840 to get your health back on the right track.