Most of us know that feeling of being a little more tired than usual lately.
It is easy to blame it on a busy week, poor sleep or just getting a bit older. For many adults, these small changes mean something else entirely.
More than 115 million American adults have prediabetes, and 8 in 10 of them do not know it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That is blood sugar higher than normal, but not yet in the type 2 diabetes range.
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Caught early, prediabetes is reversible. The CDC says losing weight through healthier eating and more movement can cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half.
The problem is that prediabetes rarely announces itself. The American Diabetes Association says there are no clear symptoms, which is why so many people have it without knowing. When signs appear, they are easy to blame on tiredness, stress or age.
The most overlooked sign shows up on your skin
One of the earliest visible clues is called acanthosis nigricans. It is a dark, velvety patch of thickened skin that usually appears on the back of the neck, in the armpits or in the groin.
The patches can also appear on the elbows, knees or knuckles. According to the CDC, acanthosis nigricans is a sign of insulin resistance and can point to prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
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The skin often looks dirty or stained, but it does not wash off. Many people assume it is a hygiene or sun issue, when in fact it signals that cells have stopped responding properly to insulin.
The 8 signs doctors want you to notice
Drawn from CDC and ADA guidance, these are the signs worth mentioning to a doctor if they are new or persistent.
- Darkened, velvety patches of skin on the neck, armpits or groin, known as acanthosis nigricans.
- Increased thirst, even when drinking a normal amount of water.
- Needing to urinate more often, including waking up at night to go.
- Fatigue that is not explained by poor sleep or a long week.
- Blurred vision that comes and goes.
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
- Slow-healing cuts and sores, or repeat infections.
- Increased hunger, even shortly after eating.
None of these on their own is proof of prediabetes. They are reasons to ask for a blood test.
How prediabetes is actually diagnosed
The only way to confirm prediabetes is a blood test. Doctors use one of three options.
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The A1C test shows average blood sugar over the past 2 or 3 months.
Prediabetes falls between 5.7 and 6.4 percent, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
A fasting plasma glucose test flags prediabetes between 100 and 125 mg/dL.
An oral glucose tolerance test shows prediabetes between 140 and 199 mg/dL two hours after a sugary drink.
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The CDC lists several risk factors beyond symptoms. These include being overweight, age 45 or older, a family history of type 2 diabetes, physical inactivity, past gestational diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Any of these is a reason to ask about the blood test at the next check-up.
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This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.