What Is Borderline Diabetes?
You may have been told that you have borderline diabetes if you have:
- Fasting blood glucose level between 110 and 125 mg/dl
- Glucose level of 140 to 199 mg/dl at the two hour measurement during an oral glucose tolerance test
However, most people who receive this "diagnosis" of borderline diabetes should have been given a different name for their condition. Experts at the National Cholesterol Education Program say that the term "borderline diabetes" should be abandoned. Instead, one of the following terms should be used to describe what is really happening in the body:
- Insulin resistance: A condition in which the body does not respond normally to insulin, thus causing the body to produce more and more insulin to move glucose from the bloodstream into the cells. Although blood glucose levels eventually go back to normal, the high insulin levels can cause damage, including:
- High blood pressure
- Clogged arteries
- Lower HDL "good" cholesterol levels
- Impaired glucose tolerance: Think of this as the eventual consequence of insulin resistance. Over time, the body cannot make enough insulin to bring blood glucose levels down, so they rise slightly. People with impaired glucose tolerance can experience the same damage as those with type 2 diabetes, including kidney, eye and heart damage.
- Type 2 diabetes: In this most common form of diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use the glucose that enters the bloodstream after eating.
What To Do When You Have "Borderline Diabetes"
Your physician or diabetes educator can help you learn how to care for yourself when you have abnormalities that make you likely to develop type 2 diabetes — or those that are often called borderline diabetes. This will include:
- Checking blood glucose levels using a home glucose monitor to detect any levels above normal. Remember, any level above normal can lead to long-term complications.
- Following a meal plan for people with type 2 diabetes.
- If you are overweight, starting today on a lifestyle-enhancing program that will assist you at losing weight slowly, and then keeping it off.
- Starting and maintaining a regular exercise program that is right for you, and that is approved by your physician.
Hope for Tomorrow
The good news is that taking charge of your health today can prevent the complications that can occur tomorrow.