Prediabetes

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes, sometimes called borderline diabetes, means your blood sugar levels are higher than they should be (42 mmol/mol to 47 mmol/mol). It is diagnosed by a blood test.

If you have prediabetes, you have a high risk of type 2 diabetes — which can bring serious health problems. 

But by making health changes it is often possible to prevent type 2 diabetes (48 mmol/mol or above) and even reverse your prediabetes and return your blood sugar levels to a normal level (below 42 mmol/mol). 

To support you to make health changes, your GP should refer you to a type 2 prevention course or advice. 

There aren't usually any symptoms if you have prediabetes. Prediabetes is estimated to affect around one in 12 people. 

Prediabetes is more common in people living with overweight and obesity but can also affect people of a healthy weight.