Borderline diabetes or commonly known as prediabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar levels are higher than the normal but not high enough to be termed as diabetes. It’s an indicative sign that you might be inching towards developing type 2 diabetes. Good news is it can be reversed by prioritizing your health.
Borderline diabetes can also be referred as insulin resistance, impaired fasting glucose or glucose intolerance. During prediabetes phase, the pancreas still builds enough insulin with the carbohydrate intake, but the insulin becomes less effective in removing sugar from the bloodstream. This keeps your blood sugar levels high.
Symptoms of Borderline Diabetes / Prediabetes
Most people with prediabetes don’t realise the symptoms until they develop full blown type 2 diabetes. This is mainly because diabetes develops gradually without any obvious signs or symptoms.
Below are some of the subtle symptoms of prediabetes which shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Thirsty & Urinate more
This symptom might leave you surprised but should not be neglected. If you have been feeling thirsty often & urinating more even during the night time, it is a sign to check with your doctor.
This happens as your body slowly becomes insulin resistant & the blood glucose levels rise as your body isn’t able to produce required insulin to manage the sugar levels.
Tired & exhausted
Another possible reason you might be feeling exhausted & lethargic all the time is the sign you might be developing prediabetes.
When the blood sugars fluctuate more, it makes you sluggish. Doctors advice to get some exercise for this symptom but ironically you might not feel doing anything being tired.
You have lost weight abruptly
Although obesity can be one of the reasons of diabetes, but a drastic weight loss can also be one of the underlying signs of prediabetes.
Once you start developing prediabetes, you would feel hungry all the time as the sugars get washed way with urine.
So, your body won’t be able to convert the glucose or sugar into energy. If you eating a lot more & still losing weight, talk to your doctor.
You’ve been seeing things blurry lately
Vision change is one of the clear reasons for a prediabetic person. The high blood sugar level damages the blood vessels in the eye making it swell.
It damages the retina of your eye. Most of the people with diabetic condition face this problem. However, if the sugar levels are controlled you can have a better vision again.
Dark Patches on Skin
A little change in your body can trigger much bigger problem. The dark patches you have developed recently might be an early warning of prediabetes.
You can find the dark patches with velvety texture in elbows, neck, armpits or even neck. This is because excess insulin causes more production of cells known as melanin which makes skin darker.
Causes of Pre-diabetes
You are overweight
You can overrule the prediabetes symptom by shedding out extra fat. Obesity has been known amongst the underlying reason for prediabetes.
The excess weight causes your muscle and tissue cells to become resistant to insulin hormone. With this insulin resistance, more glucose builds up in the body causing high blood sugar.
unhealthy living
Your lifestyle affects your overall health. A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise or yoga, meditation can help prevent you from developing prediabetes. Exercise is proved to reduce the risk of prediabetes. If you induce these small changes in your habits, it can save you from taking any medications.
Diabetes in Family Genes
A family history of diabetes increases your risk of developing prediabetes than the normal people. The presence of certain genes can when passed down from one generation to other can also cause prediabetes. This is a clear symptom which makes a person more prone to prediabetes. However, making changes in your lifestyle is known to delay and even prevent prediabetes.
Gestational diabetes or PCOS
If you had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, you are more likely to develop diabetes again over a period of time. Women with gestational diabetes should get their blood sugar checked every three years.
Also, women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have insulin resistance & high blood sugar which can also cause prediabetes.
