The Dangers of Being Pre-Diabetic

When you get your blood glucose (or blood sugar) tested by your doctor, the results may indicate one of three things: normal levels, diabetes, or a condition known as pre-diabetes—a warning sign that your blood sugar is elevated but not yet in the diabetic range.

At Functional Medicine Los Angeles, we believe that understanding what this means and what actions to take next is crucial to your long-term health.

Blood Tests for Diabetes

While symptoms like fatigue and unexplained weight loss can hint at developing diabetes, the only way to confirm it is through a blood test. Your doctor may use one or more of the following:

1. Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test
2. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
3. Hemoglobin A1C test

If your fasting blood sugar level is between 100 and 125 mg/dL, you are considered pre-diabetic. A reading of 126 mg/dL or higher on two separate tests typically indicates type 2 diabetes.

How Pre-Diabetes Affects Your Body

Pre-diabetes is both a red flag and an opportunity. It means you’re at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes—but it also means there’s still time to take action. Functional medicine doctors emphasize that making lifestyle changes now can delay or even prevent the onset of diabetes.

Elevated blood sugar over time can damage your blood vessels, nerves, and organs—even if you haven’t yet crossed the threshold into diabetes. At functional medicine Toluca Lake, we emphasize that this is why early intervention is critical.

Common Risk Factors

Certain risk factors increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, especially if you are already pre-diabetic. These include:

1. Being over the age of 45
2. Obesity or being overweight
3. A sedentary lifestyle
4. Poor diet high in refined carbs and sugars
5. Family history of diabetes
6. High blood pressure or abnormal cholesterol levels
7. Understanding these risks can help you focus on areas for change.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

If you’ve been diagnosed as pre-diabetic, you have the power to reverse course. At Los Angeles functional medicine, we guide patients through key steps to take:

1. Adopt a healthy, balanced diet rich in whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of vegetables.
2. Lose excess weight, even a modest 5-7% reduction can make a big difference.
3. Exercise regularly, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
4. Limit sugar and refined carbohydrate intake.