Doctors highlight the importance of recognising prediabetes as a critical warning sign and advocate for lifestyle modifications, such as diet and exercise, to prevent progression to type 2 diabetes and related conditions.
Prediabetes is often dismissed as a borderline laboratory result, yet doctors say it is better understood as an early warning that the body is beginning to struggle with glucose control. In practical terms, blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Harvard Health and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both note that the condition often develops without obvious symptoms, which is why it is frequently missed until routine testing picks it up.
The article by Stauroula Paschou in Ta Nea argues that this silent stage matters because it marks a period when intervention can still change the direction of a person’s health. That view is consistent with guidance from the CDC, which says prediabetes raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, while Johns Hopkins Medicine says many people are unaware they have it precisely because they do not feel unwell. Mayo Clinic also stresses the value of screening in adults with risk factors such as excess weight or a family history of diabetes.
One of the strongest links is with excess body weight, particularly abdominal and visceral fat, which is closely associated with insulin resistance. That is the point at which insulin becomes less effective at moving glucose out of the bloodstream and into the body’s tissues. Paschou also highlights physical inactivity, poor diet, high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids, polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease as further risks, while noting that age matters but is not the whole story.
The encouraging part, according to both the Greek article and US public health guidance, is that prediabetes is not destiny. The most effective response is lifestyle change, especially for people carrying extra weight. Paschou says a weight loss of at least 5% to 7% can make a meaningful difference, and Johns Hopkins says lifestyle changes can cut the risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes by about half. The CDC likewise says healthy eating, more physical activity and weight loss can prevent or delay the disease.
Diet does not need to be extreme to help. Paschou recommends a Mediterranean-style pattern built around vegetables, pulses, fruit, wholegrains, nuts, olive oil and good-quality protein, while cutting back on sugary drinks, sweets, refined grains and heavily processed foods. That advice fits with the broader message from Harvard Health and the CDC that sustainable changes matter more than rigid restriction. Regular exercise is also central: about 150 minutes a week of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming, ideally combined with strength work, can improve insulin sensitivity even if weight loss is modest.
Monitoring remains important even after changes are made. Paschou says glucose or HbA1c testing should be repeated at least once a year, and more often in higher-risk people, while blood pressure, cholesterol, body weight and waist size should all be assessed together. Mayo Clinic says blood tests such as fasting glucose, the A1C test and the oral glucose tolerance test are used to identify prediabetes and diabetes, and in a small number of very high-risk patients doctors may consider medication alongside lifestyle measures. The central message, however, is simple: prediabetes is a warning, but it is also a chance to act early.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
