What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes means your blood glucose (blood sugar) is higher than the normal range, but not high enough to meet the criteria for diabetes.
It is an important warning sign, but it is not a prediction of what must happen next. People with prediabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and there are steps you can take to reduce that risk.
Newly diagnosed? Start with our guide to what your diagnosis means and what to do next.
Know Your Numbers
Prediabetes is diagnosed with blood testing. Three commonly used tests are:
TestNormalPrediabetesDiabetesA1CBelow 5.7%5.7–6.4%6.5% or higherFasting plasma glucose99 mg/dL or below100–125 mg/dL126 mg/dL or higher2-hour oral glucose tolerance test139 mg/dL or below140–199 mg/dL200 mg/dL or higher
These tests don’t always identify the same people, and certain medical circumstances can affect test results. Your healthcare professional can interpret your results in the context of your health and determine whether additional or repeat testing is appropriate.
Learn more → Understanding Your Blood Sugar Tests
Why does blood sugar rise?
Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose move from your bloodstream into cells where it can be used for energy.
In insulin resistance, cells in the muscles, fat and liver don’t respond to insulin as effectively as they should. The body may initially compensate by producing more insulin. Over time, if the body can no longer produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels, blood sugar can rise.
Learn more → What Is Insulin Resistance?
Can you feel prediabetes?
Often, no.
Prediabetes can exist without obvious symptoms, which is one reason blood testing is important. Some people are tested because of risk factors rather than because they feel ill.
Learn more → Prediabetes Symptoms: Can You Tell If You Have It?
Does prediabetes always become type 2 diabetes?
No.
Prediabetes increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but progression is not inevitable. Lifestyle changes can reduce that risk, and some people can bring their blood glucose levels back below the prediabetes range.
What is appropriate for you depends on factors including your glucose levels, other health conditions, medications, age and individual circumstances.
Learn more → Can Prediabetes Be Reversed?
What can I do?
There isn’t one perfect “prediabetes diet” or lifestyle that everyone must follow.
Evidence supports several broad approaches to reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, including regular physical activity and sustainable changes in eating patterns. For people who have overweight or obesity, modest weight loss can substantially reduce risk.
The important word is sustainable. Changes that become part of ordinary life are more useful than an extreme program you cannot maintain.
Explore → Food & Recipes
Explore → Movement & Exercise
Explore → Healthy Living
Where should I begin?
If you’ve only recently learned that you have prediabetes, you don’t need to master everything at once.
Learn what your test results mean. Talk with your healthcare professional about your individual risk factors. Then begin with manageable changes you can continue.
Newly diagnosed? Start here →
Medical note
Pre-Diabetes.com provides general educational information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or individualized medical care. Do not start, stop or change prescribed medications or treatment based solely on information on this website. Discuss your individual health and treatment with a qualified healthcare professional.
Sources & Further Reading
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Diabetes & Prediabetes Tests
Detailed information about A1C, fasting plasma glucose and oral glucose tolerance testing, including diagnosis and confirmation of results.
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/clinical-tools-patient-management/diabetes/diabetes-prediabetes
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Recommended Tests for Identifying Prediabetes
Explains the three primary tests used to identify prediabetes and their diagnostic ranges.
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/clinical-tools-patient-management/diabetes/game-plan-preventing-type-2-diabetes/prediabetes-screening-how-why/recommended-tests-identifying-prediabetes
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Diabetes Tests & Diagnosis
Patient-oriented information about diabetes and prediabetes testing, including limitations of A1C and circumstances in which results may be affected.
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/tests-diagnosis
American Diabetes Association
Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026
Current professional standards covering diagnostic criteria, screening and classification of prediabetes and diabetes.
https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/49/Supplement_1/S27/163926/2-Diagnosis-and-Classification-of-Diabetes