BizCommunity - 1 Nov 2022
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when blood sugar (or blood glucose) is too high. Glucose at normal levels is a vital source of fuel for the body. However, high blood sugar levels can, over time, damage the body and lead to various health problems. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, amputation, heart disease, kidney failure, and early death.
Prediabetes - what you don't know may kill you
It is possible to have diabetes and not know it. In South Africa, more than half the adult population has prediabetes or diabetes, caused mainly by being overweight or obese.
Type 2 diabetes usually develops gradually over many years, and the initial symptoms may be almost unnoticeable. Many people discover that they have type 2 diabetes when a routine laboratory test shows high blood glucose levels.
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes is diagnosed when your blood sugar levels are above the specified range but not high enough to be classified as having type 2 diabetes. Blood glucose levels of less than 5.5mmol/l are considered normal by the World Health Organization (WHO). People with diabetes have a blood sugar level of 7mmol/l or higher. The prediabetic range is between these two cut-off points: 5.5 to 7mmol/l.
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