Prediabetes and Diabetes Prevention

Prediabetes describes glucose levels above the expected range but below the diagnostic threshold for diabetes. It develops when insulin-responsive tissues, especially muscle and liver, become less responsive to insulin and pancreatic beta cells can no longer fully compensate by increasing insulin secretion. The liver continues releasing glucose when it should be resting, and glucose after meals remains elevated longer than normal. This is not a harmless label. Prediabetes increases the likelihood of type 2 diabetes and often travels with hypertension, dyslipidemia, central adiposity, and cardiovascular disease risk. It can also improve. Reducing insulin resistance and decreasing metabolic demand on beta cells can return glucose to the normal range or delay diabetes for years. Most people have no symptoms. A person may feel well while fasting glucose and A1C rise gradually, which is why risk-based screening matters.