You already know that diabetes can cause serious health complications. Medical experts, however, have learned that prediabetes also causes health complications. To keep yourself safe, learn about the symptoms of prediabetes and find out how you can prevent the disease from affecting your life.

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Symptoms of Prediabetes

Doctors use three tests to determine whether a person has prediabetes

• OGTT – oral glucose tolerance test
• FPG – fasting plasma glucose test
• A1C test

These tests can only help you, though, when you visit the doctor for regular checkups. Schedule an exam at least once a year to make sure that your metabolism falls within normal parameters. This is especially important if you have a family history of diabetes.

You can also take the online test provided by American Diabetes Association to determine whether you have a high risk for diabetes. The online test, however, does not claim to offer a diagnosis, so you should still visit your doctor.

Preventing Prediabetes

Exercise and diet will help you avoid prediabetes. Make sure that you get at least 2.5 hours of physical exercise a week. You don’t have to kill yourself at the gym. Taking time each evening to walk around your neighborhood can do wonders for your health.

Avoid foods that contain a lot of sugar. That includes soft drinks as well as candy and desserts. Eat a broad range of foods, but make sure that most of them come from plants. Including plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet will only lead to good things.