Internal Medicine
Prediabetes: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Révisé par l'équipe éditoriale médicale de JordanMedHub · 12/09/2026
En bref
Prediabetes usually has no symptoms, which is exactly why it's easy to miss — but it's also the stage where lifestyle changes have the best chance of preventing type 2 diabetes.
Dans cet article
Prediabetes means blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classified as diabetes. It's far more common than most people realize, and because it usually causes no symptoms, many people have it without knowing — which is exactly why understanding the risk factors and getting screened matters.
What Causes Prediabetes
Prediabetes develops when the body starts becoming resistant to insulin or doesn't produce quite enough of it — the same underlying process behind type 2 diabetes, just at an earlier stage. Risk factors include excess body weight (particularly around the abdomen), physical inactivity, a family history of type 2 diabetes, age over 45, and a history of gestational diabetes.
Symptoms of Prediabetes
Prediabetes typically causes no noticeable symptoms at all. Some people with significantly elevated blood sugar may notice increased thirst or fatigue, but most people find out only through a routine blood test — not because they felt unwell. This is part of why screening matters more than waiting for symptoms to appear.
How Prediabetes Is Diagnosed
Pratique médicale établie
Prediabetes is diagnosed using the same blood tests used for diabetes, with results that fall in a middle range: a fasting blood glucose of 100–125 mg/dL, an HbA1c of 5.7%–6.4%, or a 2-hour glucose of 140–199 mg/dL on an oral glucose tolerance test (American Diabetes Association criteria). A result in this range is generally confirmed with a repeat test.
Treatment and Lifestyle Changes
Prediabetes is one of the few stages in this disease process where meaningful change is genuinely possible before medication becomes necessary. Modest weight loss, regular physical activity, and dietary changes — particularly reducing refined carbohydrates and added sugar — have been shown to meaningfully lower the chances of progressing to type 2 diabetes. Some people may also be offered a medication such as metformin, particularly if lifestyle changes alone aren't enough or if other risk factors are present; this is a decision made with a doctor, not something to self-start.
When to See a Doctor
Since prediabetes usually has no symptoms, the most important step is getting screened if you have risk factors — excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle, a family history of type 2 diabetes, or a history of gestational diabetes — even if you feel completely well. If you've already been diagnosed with prediabetes, regular follow-up testing (typically yearly) helps track whether lifestyle changes are working or whether the condition is progressing.
Avertissement
This guide is for general education only and does not diagnose or recommend treatment for any individual. If you have risk factors for prediabetes or diabetes, or concerns about your blood sugar, talk to a doctor about screening rather than waiting for symptoms.
Questions fréquentes
Does prediabetes have symptoms?
Usually not — prediabetes is typically discovered through a routine blood test rather than because of noticeable symptoms. This is exactly why screening based on risk factors matters more than waiting to feel unwell.
Can prediabetes turn into type 2 diabetes?
Yes, without changes, prediabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes over time. However, this isn't inevitable — lifestyle changes such as weight loss and increased physical activity have been shown to meaningfully lower that risk.
Is prediabetes reversible?
For many people, yes — bringing blood sugar back into the normal range through lifestyle changes is a realistic goal for prediabetes, more so than for established type 2 diabetes. Results vary by individual, and a doctor can help track progress with follow-up testing.
Écrit par Équipe éditoriale médicale de JordanMedHub
Mis à jour 12/09/2026
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