Pre-diabetes and diabetes
Types of diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.
Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is when your blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. Having a blood sugar level above the normal range increases your risk of developing diabetes.
It is very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it will get progressively worse if left untreated.
Type 1 diabetes
This type of diabetes is when the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin.
Type 2 diabetes
Where the body does not produce enough insulin or the body's cells do not react to insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1. In the UK, around 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2.
Getting diagnosed
Diabetes and pre-diabetes are diagnosed by a specific blood test, the HbA1C. The HbA1C measures the amount of sugar in your blood that sticks to your red blood cells.
If the level is less than 42 (mmol/mol) it is normal.
Between 42 and 48 is pre-diabetes.
Over 48 is diabetes.
The HbA1C blood test is a much more accurate way of checking blood sugar levels compared to a finger prick test. Two HbA1c tests should be taken to make sure that the diagnosis is correct.
