Prediabetes is a condition in which not only carbohydrate, but also lipid metabolism is disturbed. Insulin receptors become insensitive to the action of insulin, glucose does not enter the cells, as a result of which it “starves” and begins to synthesize more fats, which are not consumed, but form an energy reserve. Glucose tolerance and insulin resistance develop . As a result, fasting glucose and blood lipids increase. Gradually, “metabolic syndrome” and “non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus” may develop.
A distinctive feature of prediabetes is that these changes are not critical for the diagnosis of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes mellitus), but can lead to illness. According to statistics, 4-9% of people with pre – diabetes do get sick.
Most often, impaired glucose tolerance occurs in men over the age of 50, as well as in adolescents.
Risk factors for developing prediabetes include:
• Obesity, especially of the abdominal type, when fat is deposited in the waist area;
• Unbalanced nutrition, predominance of fatty and carbohydrate-containing foods;
•Sedentary lifestyle.
Today about 300 million people in the world have impaired glucose tolerance. According to some forecasts, over the next 20 years their number will increase by almost a third. Experts from the International Diabetes Federation state that the number of patients with pre-diabetes even exceeds the number of patients with type 2 diabetes.
In order to control the situation and prevent critical consequences, it is important not only to change the lifestyle, normalize nutrition, but be sure to consult a doctor and perform the necessary laboratory tests.