In addition to laboratory results for fasting and post-meal glucose levels, there are other risk factors to consider. The risk factors that increase your risk of type 2 diabetes are the same risk factors for pre-diabetes. Check to see whether you fit any of these:

• Age: 45 or older
• Family History: A parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
• Weight: Overweight or obese (the primary risk factor for pre-diabetes)
• Race/Ethnic Background: Hispanic, American Indian, African-Ameri-can, Asian-American, and Pacific-Islander
• Exercise: Inactive and sedentary lifestyle
• Pregnancy: Gestational diabetes during a past pregnancy
• Other Conditions: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Other Conditions: Inadequate sleep of fewer than 5.5 hours nightly

Risk factors are used to determine increased susceptibility. The more risk factors present in your profile, the greater the risk for developing prediabetes or diabetes.

What about Pre-Diabetes Symptoms?

Symptoms associated with pre-diabetes can be nonexistent or indistinguishable from other causes. Early symptoms of pre-diabetes are so common in fact, that many people barely notice them at all, or think that what they are feeling is “normal.” Most symptoms are vague, very common, and rarely interfere with daily activities. However, sometimes the red flags associated with type 2 diabetes begin to appear, such as:

• Increased thirst
♦ Frequent urination
♦ Fatigue that doesn’t improve with more sleep
• Blurred vision that may come and go

It is often not until several symptoms are noticed that a person begins to realize that things are not quite right.