Borderline diabetes, know called “pre-diabetes”, is present in roughly 57 million people in the United States.  It occurs in the gap between normal blood sugar levels and levels meeting the current diagnosis for diabetes. Individuals whose level of blood sugar fall into that gap may be carrying a risk of complications almost that associated with full-blown diabetes.

Until the summer of 2008, doctors were given little guidance for the treatment of this condition.  In view of the significance of allowing the condition to go untreated, guidelines for handling the problem has been recommended.

The currently accepted definition for pre-diabetes is either a fasting blood glucose level ranging from 100 to 125 mg/dL), an abnormal glucose tolerance  following a 2-hour post-glucose load  ranging from 140-199 mg/dL), or both.

Of note, persons considered pre-diabetic or borderline diabetic “should be treated for the same cardiovascular risks as diabetic persons, including blood pressure and cholesterol” and should be actively encouraged by their primary care physician to engage in lifestyle changes.  It is affirmed that appropriate lifestyle change is unmatched in reducing the complications of diabetes.