What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes definition:  having blood glucose levels that are higher than normal.  However, they are not yet at the point that tips you over into having full blown diabetes.

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This is not a new condition.  It is something the medical profession have known about for a long time.  However, it has been given the name prediabetes as it is a clearer way of understanding what it is to have to have higher than normal blood glucose (sugar).

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A lot of people have raised blood sugar levels above what is classed as the normal range when an HbA1c blood test is done.  However, these levels are still not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.  This is what is then called prediabetes and is also known as non-diabetic hyperglycaemia.

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This can be brought on through, for example, genetics, being older, or leading a very sedentary lifestyle and if you have prediabetes are at a greater risk of developing Type II diabetes.  

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If you are diagnosed with prediabetes it could be that some of the damage that is caused to your body by having full blown diabetes is starting to happen especially to your heart, kidneys and blood vessels.

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The good news is that if you make lifestyle changes now you can reverse or slow the effects of creeping into full blown diabetes.

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Once you are classed as prediabetic your GP should call you once a year for a blood test to check things are going okay.  If you have other underlying health conditions you may be called more often, or you may be lucky and just have a surgery who will do a test more than once a year, but usually NHS guidance is that once a year is enough.​​​​

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WHAT IS INSULIN?

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Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas which controls the glucose in the body.  Insulin helps glucose in your blood access cells in your muscle, fat and liver.  This is what provides us with energy and helps stop the body getting too much sugar.

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​Glucose is a primary energy source for the body’s cells and we get it from the foods we are eating.  If needed the liver will also make glucose, for example, when you are fasting for some reason. 

 

After meals, the blood glucose (blood sugar) levels rise and eating some foods can lead to spikes in blood glucose levels. The pancreas responds by secreting insulin to help the uptake of glucose from the blood into insulin-sensitive cells, particularly muscle and fat cells, so that we have a steady supply of energy.  This helps keep our blood glucose in normal range.

 

The process:

 

• we eat carbohydrates and sugary snacks which are broken down into glucose

• our blood glucose levels rise

• the pancreas secretes insulin to ease the uptake of glucose by insulin-sensitive cells

• blood glucose levels drop

 

However, bear in mind that prediabetes is ultimately a form of insulin resistance.

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​SO WHAT IS INSULIN RESISTANCE?​

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​​This is when your insulin-sensitive cells ie muscles, fat and liver are not responding well, and can't easily pick up the glucose leaving higher glucose levels in your blood. 

 

This results in your pancreas making more insulin to help glucose enter those cells.    

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​The risk of insulin resistance is more likely if you have too much fat stored in and around your liver and pancreas. 

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Because insulin resistance creeps up on you silently you are unaware until you have a blood test and your blood sugar levels are abnormally raised.​

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CAN MY BODY HAVE TOO MUCH INSULIN?

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Yes is the short answer.

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However, drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated helps manage your blood glucose.  Drinking water will help your kidneys filter out excess sugars through your urine.  Ultimately, the more hydrated you are, the more urine you produce and that in turn will flush out sugars in the body.  

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Also, physical exercise and sticking to a low sugar and low carb diet will help manage the insulin levels in your body.

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One of the effects of having excess insulin in the bloodstream can cause hypoglycaemia ie very low glucose levels in your blood.  This causes cells in your body to absorb too much glucose and this in turn causes your liver to release less glucose and then you lack energy to do anything.

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Don't panic - fortunately, this is rare in people that are not fully diabetic, but can on rare occasions happen.​

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