What Is Pre-Diabetes? Gestational Diabetes?- Are Both the Same?

Pre-diabetes is a state when your blood glucose level is higher than normal but not quite high enough to have you diagnosed as being diabetec. However, you need to take some precautions as this condition enough to put you at higher risk of developing a heart attack or stroke.

There are 3 conditions that are commonly found in people with pre-diabetes:

i) high blood pressure ii) high blood lipids (fats in the blood) iii) obese or overweight

Pre-diabetes does not present any symptoms, so it is encouraged that you take a simple blood glucose test at a clinic.

If your reading is 5.6 to less than 7.0 mmol/L (fasting) or 7.8 to less than 11.1 mmol/L (2 hours after food), the doctor will perform specific blood tests to confirm whether you're in pre-diabetes state or have developed Type 2 diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes develops only during pregnancy. Like Type 2 diabetes, it occurs more often in African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and among women with a family history of diabetes. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing Type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years.

Source: New Sunday Times / Peter Lenkefi

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism the way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose,the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body. Diabetes causes glucose to back up in the bloodstream. As more and more glucose remains in the bloodstream blood glucose or blood sugar levels can rise too high.

There are two major types of diabetes. Consider the following information as it relates to both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes (also called juvenile-onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes), the body completely stops producing any insulin. Insulin is a hormone that enables the body to use glucose to produce energy. Sufferers of type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections in order to survive.Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children or young adults; however, it can occur at any age.

Type 2 diabetes (also called adult-onset diabetes or non insulin-dependent diabetes) results when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin and/or is unable to use insulin properly .Type 2 diabetes happens when your body either cannot produce enough insulin or does not use the insulin it makes properly. Insulin is ahormone produced by the pancreas. Many of the foods we eat such as bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and fruit are converted into sugar and give us the energy we need to maintain life. Insulin gets the sugar into the cells.

Diabetes is a life-long condition. High blood glucose levels over a long period of time can cause blindness, heart disease, kidney problems, and amputations. Good diabetes care and management can prevent or delay the onset of these complications.

Author: Peter Lenkefi

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