You may experience other health effects if you don’t manage prediabetes effectively. This can also lead to type 2 diabetes, which carries its own risk of diabetes complications that may affect your eyes, heart, kidneys, and nerves.
One in three people in the United States may live with prediabetes, a condition that is a precursor to type 2 diabetes and has health implications if it’s not managed effectively.
This means prediabetes can
These may include higher blood pressure or insulin resistance, which can lead to higher blood sugars and more difficulty managing prediabetes and preventing type 2 diabetes.
Over time, this can lead to kidney damage, heart disease, vision loss, and nerve damage that might affect your limbs or other organs.
You can take steps to manage and even reverse prediabetes, preventing T2D and any other health complications.
Although it’s not technically a “complication” of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes can develop over time from prediabetes.
Prediabetes is not a guarantee that you will go on to develop type 2. However, research does show that as many as
That means someone who develops T2D may need to create a diabetes management plan that includes more lifestyle changes, possibly medications or insulin to help manage blood sugar levels.
Over time, higher blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) and average three-month A1C tests can raise the risk for other, more serious complications.
If you’re at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, you can learn more about developing a care plan to manage your condition and help you remain healthy.
Possible heart complications can develop from prediabetes over time if blood sugars are not managed and you develop type 2 diabetes. This means you could have a
While this often is tied to T2D that may develop from prediabetes, this 2019 research found that heart disease can develop before a T2D diagnosis, including for those with prediabetes.
People with prediabetes and diabetes may have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Known also as diabetes-related nephropathy, this complication is one of the more serious long-term effects of higher blood sugars, and it’s a leading cause of kidney failure.
This can mean the kidneys no longer work effectively to filter blood throughout the body, and it can lead to dialysis or a kidney transplant.
People with diabetes and prediabetes may experience eye health complications.
This can begin with blurry vision as a symptom of higher blood sugars, to vision loss and possibly blindness if glucose levels aren’t well-managed.
Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema are two eye-related complications that can lead to eye floaters, vision loss, and blindness.
People with prediabetes are at risk for this, and research suggests it’s a growing trend.
As with most diabetes complications, blood sugar levels and overall health management are key factors in determining how much someone may be at risk for developing complications.
Learn more about diabetic retinopathy and diabetes-related eye complications.
Neuropathy is nerve damage that develops in people with diabetes. It is most often caused by high blood sugar over time.
This can lead to poor circulation, numbers, and tingling sensations in your legs, feet, toes, arms and fingers. You may also experience health issues in other body parts, such as your digestive system.
People with prediabetes and those who experience diabetes-related complications over time may be at higher risk for slower or delayed healing, where skin cuts or wounds don’t heal as quickly as they might for those without diabetes.
This can be a result of nerve damage and poor circulation.
That means your feet and lower limbs may have the most noticeable effects. This can lead to related concerns, including foot ulcers.
Find out more on diabetes-related foot complications and what you can do if you experience these from prediabetes.
The key to preventing prediabetes complications involves managing your condition.
The National Diabetes Prevention Program led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that people who follow certain lifestyle changes may reduce their risk by up to
Those changes may include:
- Manage your blood sugars: Keeping glucose levels in range is a big part of managing prediabetes and helping to prevent its development into type 2 diabetes.
- Examine your eating habits and meal plans: You might try these tips for following a prediabetes eating plan that works best for you.
- Get enough physical activity: The CDC
recommends at least 150 minutes a week of brisk walking or similar moderate activity. That may translate to 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week. - Be honest about weight management: You can discuss with your healthcare team the best weight management goals for you. For managing prediabetes and T2D prevention,
health guidelines advise that 5% to 7% of weight loss (or 10 to 14 pounds for someone who’s 200 pounds) may help to prevent diabetes. - Mind your mental health: This can involve stress and daily activities that may impact your health, and how you manage your prediabetes. Managing your mental health can be a big part of managing prediabetes to prevent future complications.
People with prediabetes are at higher risk for certain complications, just as those with type 2 and other types of diabetes may be. Those complications may affect your heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, feet and legs, and other body parts.
You can take steps to manage prediabetes and help prevent type 2 diabetes and long-term complications. Those lifestyle changes include establishing a healthy eating routine, daily physical activity, and managing your mental health and weight.
Your healthcare team can best guide you on what actions you can take in managing your prediabetes and reducing the risk of long-term complications.
Life with prediabetes?
Find out how you can manage prediabetes and help prevent it from developing into type 2 diabetes.