Early detection of prediabetes can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases
| Jan 24, 2019, 14:42 IST
Researchers reveal detecting prediabetes early can reduce people's risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
The team from Wake Forest School of Medicine reveal the diagnosis can help people make the necessary lifestyle changes to better their health. “We know that having diabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, so in our study we wanted to determine what the absolute risk or probability of developing heart disease was for people who were only at a pre-diabetic level of blood sugar,” lead author of the study Michael P Bancks, told a news portal.
Prediabetes is determined by a fasting blood sugar level between 100 and 125 mg/dL. A fasting blood sugar level of less than 100 mg/dL is considered to be normal. Anything higher than 126 mg/dLmeans you are at risk of developing diabetes.
“Although we found that individuals who had pre-diabetic levels of blood glucose did not have a higher absolute risk for cardiovascular disease, we know that most people go on to develop diabetes unless they take measures to reduce their blood sugar levels," said Bancks.
The team believes the findings show if you can avoid diabetes, you could stave off cardiovascular diseases. “Pre-diabetes should serve as a red flag to doctors to closely monitor their patient’s blood sugar to try to prevent diabetes through lifestyle interventions like better diet and increased physical activity, and if necessary, with pharmacologic therapies,” Bancks further explained.
The team from Wake Forest School of Medicine reveal the diagnosis can help people make the necessary lifestyle changes to better their health. “We know that having diabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, so in our study we wanted to determine what the absolute risk or probability of developing heart disease was for people who were only at a pre-diabetic level of blood sugar,” lead author of the study Michael P Bancks, told a news portal.
Prediabetes is determined by a fasting blood sugar level between 100 and 125 mg/dL. A fasting blood sugar level of less than 100 mg/dL is considered to be normal. Anything higher than 126 mg/dLmeans you are at risk of developing diabetes.
“Although we found that individuals who had pre-diabetic levels of blood glucose did not have a higher absolute risk for cardiovascular disease, we know that most people go on to develop diabetes unless they take measures to reduce their blood sugar levels," said Bancks.
The team believes the findings show if you can avoid diabetes, you could stave off cardiovascular diseases. “Pre-diabetes should serve as a red flag to doctors to closely monitor their patient’s blood sugar to try to prevent diabetes through lifestyle interventions like better diet and increased physical activity, and if necessary, with pharmacologic therapies,” Bancks further explained.