Prediabetes or borderline diabetes refers to elevated blood sugar levels, but lower than diabetes sugar levels. Knowing about these levels helps in managing the condition, before it is too late to lower glucose concentration in the bloodstream.
After digestion, the energy is stored in the blood, in the form of glucose. It is then circulated to the body cells for their normal functioning with the help of insulin hormone. At times, sugar or glucose is not utilized by the cells and tissues, thus retained in the blood itself. Such a condition affects the body in several ways, and the underlying medical condition is referred to as diabetes. The opposite of this is low glucose level in the blood, known as hypoglycemia.
Normal Blood Sugar levels
For a healthy person, the concentration of sugar in the blood falls within a recommended range, 70-130 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter) when measured before meals. This range of value is lower for fasting people (70-99 mg/dl), and higher after having meals. Very low or very high glucose concentration in the blood is a medical concern. Considering this, the blood sugar level is determined in order to diagnose whether an individual has diabetes or not. Prediabetes levels are also studied in detail, so as to make people aware whether they are at a risk of developing diabetes or not.
Prediabetes and Diabetes Blood Sugar Levels
When a patient is diagnosed with borderline diabetes or prediabetes, it means that his or her sugar levels are higher than the normal, recommended range, but not so high that it can be identified as diabetes. It is estimated that more than 55 million people in the United States have prediabetes symptoms. Medical experts are of the opinion that health conditions caused as a result of hyperglycemia are already present, when an individual is in borderline diabetes. For your understanding, blood glucose levels for prediabetes and diabetes are explained below:
Prediabetes Levels
Undergoing a blood sugar test at regular intervals is of utmost importance, even if there are no virtual symptoms of diabetes. It is because, even a slight increase in the value is associated with risks for heart disease, stroke, and eye problems. Thus, doctors are concerned about these levels. If the fasting blood glucose levels fall between 100 and 126 mg/dl (normal being 100 mg/dl), it is considered as prediabetes. The prediabetes blood glucose level when measured after 2 hours of having meals is 140-199 mg/dl.
Diabetes Levels
Whether you are referring to type 1 or type 2 diabetes blood sugar levels, they mean the same. The difference is that, type 1 diabetes is caused due to low production or inappropriate use of insulin, whereas type 2 diabetes is resulted when the body cannot use insulin properly. People whose fasting blood glucose levels measure 126 mg/dl or more on two successive occasions are diagnosed with diabetes. Likewise, diabetes is confirmed, if the blood glucose levels measured after 2 hours of having meals come to 200 mg/dl or more.
You can refer to the blood sugar levels chart displayed in hospitals and health clinics for better understanding. Speaking more about prediabetes, low blood sugar is also observed in some people, who are having insulin resistance (risk for type 2 diabetes), especially when they have fasted for some time. After being diagnosed with borderline diabetes, the doctor will suggest prediabetes diet, regular exercise and weight control methods to prevent diabetes.
The values vary from one medical report to another. Say for example, the readings released by the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) are more stringent than American Diabetes Association (ADA). If you are not too sure about which medical data you should follow, do not hesitate to take an expert opinion from a qualified physician.
