Prediabetes is a relatively new term used to describe people who have blood sugar levels that are above normal but have not yet reached true type 2 diabetes levels. Fasting blood sugar levels between 100 and 126 mg/dL, as well as having a blood sugar of 140 mg/dL two hours after drinking a glucose solution, represent prediabetes. Approximately 56 million people in the U.S. are thought to be prediabetic, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

After a prediabetes diagnosis it is important to initiate aggressive lifestyle changes geared to reducing weight, such as lowering carbohydrate intake and increasing exercise. Information from the Diabetes Prevention Program suggests that lifestyle modifications such as these can lower the risk of prediabetes becoming type 2 diabetes.

One aspect that is often overlooked is sleep. Getting adequate sleep is often sacrificed due to the demands of job and family. In the Sleep Heart Health Study, which looked at sleep and its relationship to diabetes and prediabetes, more than 1,400 men and women were surveyed about their sleep habits. Sleeping less than six hours per night was associated with increased risk of diabetes. Interestingly, in those sleeping more than nine hours per night, there was also an increased risk of diabetes and prediabetes. The authors of the study recommend between seven and eight hours of sleep per night to minimize the chances of developing blood sugar problems.

Some experts believe that medication to help control blood sugar levels may be needed at that time. Because prediabetics are probably at increased risk for developing heart and blood vessel disease, similar to true diabetics, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels becomes even more crucial to help prevent complications. Individuals with prediabetes need to consult their healthcare provider to determine if medication is necessary to achieve these goals.