Signs & Symptoms of Pre-Diabetes

Pre-diabetes is indicated by blood glucose levels that are consistently higher than average. As time goes on, these higher-than-normal blood sugar levels rise, until they are high enough to qualify as diabetes. While most pre-diabetics do not experience symptoms, there are several warning signs that can predict pre-diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes

Women who experienced blood sugar levels during pregnancy that were high enough to require treatment for gestational diabetes are at increased risk for pre-diabetes.

Lifestyle

Individuals who are overweight and lead a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to have pre-diabetic blood sugar levels.

Ethnicity

Certain races are more prone to high blood sugar than others. Individuals that have African, Native American, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Island ethnic heritage have a tendency toward high blood glucose levels, and should be tested regularly.

Family

Diabetes is an inherited condition, so individuals with close family members who have diabetes are frequently diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

Skin

A visible sign that an individual is at risk for pre-diabetes is the presence of a certain type of skin in the neck or armpits. The skin that predicts pre-diabetes is thick, dark, and velvety.