Prediabetes: Know Your Patients’ Risks

There are an estimated 84 million adults 18 years and older in the U.S. who are prediabetic or at risk for developing diabetes.1  Prediabetes is characterized as higher than normal glucose levels but not high enough to meet criteria for diabetes.2  It is associated with –

  • Being overweight or obese, especially abdominal obesity
  • Physical inactivity
  • High blood pressure
  • A mother, father, brother or sister who has diabetes
  • African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American or Pacific Islander race or ethnicity
  • A history of heart disease
  • If you are female, having a history of gestational diabetes
  • Low levels of HDL cholesterol, high levels of triglycerides, and increased levels of small, dense LDL particles.2,3

There are no specific symptoms and individuals are often unaware of they are at risk for diabetes. This is important because prediabetes status is a significant risk factor for diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and cardiovascular disease (CVD).2,3 In fact, many individuals with prediabetes characteristics already have CVD, hypertension and unrecognized CKD.3,4  Without appropriate clinical intervention, an individual’s prediabetes status is likely to progress to diabetes over time - generally within 10 years or less.4 

LabCorp offers test options to assist clinicians with identification and management of prediabetes and diabetes. 

Provider Login

Login to order tests for your patients. If you do not have an account, contact sales to get started.

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Patient Diabetes Assessment Quiz

Additionally, your patients may benefit from taking a quiz from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that can help assess risk for prediabetes. Click https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/takethetest/ to find out more and view the quiz.  

Document Downloads & Resources: 

  1. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Center for Disease Control. Pages 1-20
  2. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes Care – 2018.  American Diabetes Association.  Diabetes Care 2018;41:S1-S159
  3. AACE Diabetes Resource Center. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.  Common Comorbidities and Complications of Prediabetes.  Downloaded 20June2018.
  4. Prediabetes? What does it mean for your kidneys? National Kidney Foundation®.  Downloaded 6August2018.