Pre-diabetes
Key facts
- Pre-diabetes is when your blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes.
- There are normally no symptoms of pre-diabetes.
- Pre-diabetes happens when the cells in your body stop responding normally to insulin.
- If you have pre-diabetes, lifestyle changes can help stop you getting type 2 diabetes.
What is pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is when your blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes.
If you have pre-diabetes, you have either one or both of:
- impaired glucose tolerance — your blood glucose level is above a target range after a meal or glucose tolerance test (GTT)
- impaired fasting glucose — your fasting blood glucose level is above normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes
In Australia, 2 million people have pre-diabetes. About 1 in 10 of these people develops type 2 diabetes each year.
What are the symptoms of pre-diabetes?
There are normally no symptoms of pre-diabetes. You may find out that you have pre-diabetes when you get the results of blood tests.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What causes pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes happens when the cells in your body stop responding normally to insulin. So, your pancreas starts making more insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that lets your cells use blood sugar for energy.
There are some risk factors that make it more likely that you will develop pre-diabetes.
The risk factors for pre-diabetes are like those for type 2 diabetes. Some risk factors are modifiable (things you can change). Other risk factors are non-modifiable (things you can’t’ change).
Modifiable risk factors
Modifiable risk factors for pre-diabetes are:
- being overweight — having a waist measurement of more than 94cm for men and more than 80cm for women
- being inactive
- having low HDL (good) cholesterol and high triglycerides
- having high blood pressure
- smoking or vaping
Non-modifiable risk factors
The non-modifiable risk factors for pre-diabetes are:
- having a family history of type 2 diabetes
- being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or a Pacific Islander
- having a family background from South-East Asia, Asia (the sub-continent), Arabia or north Africa
- having a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or having given birth to a baby weighing more than 4.5kgs
- having polycystic ovary syndrome
- having hemochromatosis
When should I see my doctor?
Your doctor may screen you for pre-diabetes using the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment (AUSDRISK) screening tool. It calculates your chance of getting type 2 diabetes in the next 5 years. It’s a list of questions that considers your:
- age, sex and ethnicity
- family history of diabetes
- blood pressure
- whether you smoke
- your usual diet
- how much physical activity you get
- your waist measurement
If you have a score of 12 or more, you have a high chance of getting type 2 diabetes.
You can also complete the AUSDRISK online.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
How is pre-diabetes diagnosed?
Your doctor may send you for blood tests:
- a fasting blood glucose or a non-fasting random blood glucose
- a glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c)
If your results show that your blood sugar levels are raised, you may need to have an oral glucose tolerance test.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.
How is pre-diabetes treated?
If you have been told you have pre-diabetes, it’s important to make changes to your lifestyle. This can help stop you from getting type 2 diabetes. Things you can do are:
- eat a balanced diet
- increase the amount of physical activity you do
- lose weight if you are overweight
Having pre-diabetes does not mean you will get type 2 diabetes.
What are the complications of pre-diabetes?
If you have pre-diabetes, you have a greater chance of getting type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
You should see your doctor if you have any signs that your pre-diabetes has become type 2 diabetes, such as:
- being more thirsty than usual
- urinating (weeing) a lot
- feeling very tired
- blurred vision
Resources and support
To check if you’re a healthy weight, visit body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.
Learn more about pre-diabetes with Diabetes Australia.
You can use the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK).
The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) has information on understanding pre-diabetes. You can find out about the type 2 diabetes prevention programs in your state or territory.
The NDSS also has information on making healthy food choices and physical activity in languages other than English.
You can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: October 2024
