Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes yet. The exact cause of prediabetes is unknown, but family history and genetics appear to play an important role. People with prediabetes dont process sugar (glucose) properly anymore. Most of the glucose in the body comes from the food we eat. When food is digested, sugar enters the bloodstream. This can happen because:

• The pancreas may not make enough insulin
• The cells become resistant to insulin and dont allow as much sugar in

The same factors that increase the odds of getting type 2 diabetes also increase the risk of prediabetes. These factors include:

• Being overweight or obese
• Being 45 years or older
• Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
• Being African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
• Having high blood pressure
• Having low levels of HDL
• Having high triglycerides
• Having high blood sugar levels
• Having a large waist size

Prediabetes typically has no symptoms and is usually diagnosed with a blood test. People can have prediabetes for years but have no clear symptoms, so it often goes undetected until serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes show up. It’s important to talk to a doctor about getting blood sugar tested if there are any risk factors for prediabetes.

Researchers think that being overweight and not getting regular physical activity are major factors in causing prediabetes. Insulin resistance, a condition in which the body cant use its insulin properly, is believed to be the No. 1 cause of prediabetes. It makes it hard for cells to get glucose from the blood, causing blood sugar levels to rise. Another cause is when the body cant make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels at a healthy level[[5]](h...