Excess body weight, especially around your waistline, and cellular inflammation related to obesity may prevent your cells from using insulin as they should.

Exercise helps your body use sugar efficiently. If you aren't physically active, too much sugar stays in your blood and contributes to insulin resistance.

People over the age of 45 are more likely to develop prediabetes.

Prediabetes is more common in certain ethnic groups, including African Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander Americans.

Having a parent or sibling with diabetes increases your risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

You’re more likely to develop prediabetes if you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep problems or certain hormonal disorders. A history of gestational diabetes, heart disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or stroke also increases your risk.

Corticosteroids, antipsychotics, statins, some blood pressure medications and certain HIV medications may raise your blood sugar.

The chemicals in cigarettes cause inflammation and cellular damage, which may make your cells more likely to resist insulin.

Your provider takes a blood sample after you’ve been fasting (not eating or drinking anything except water) for about eight hours. This test measures your blood sugar at a single point in time. Most people receive this test during physicals or routine check-ups, even without diabetes risk factors.

An A1C test measures your average blood sugar levels over the last three months. It’s more reliable than a plasma glucose test since the average accounts for blood sugar fluctuations (up and down changes) due to stress, diet or illness. An A1C level between 5.7% and 6.4% means you have prediabetes. If you have prediabetes, diabetes or diabetes risk factors, your provider will tell you how often you need an A1C test.

We connect you with a registered dietitian who can help you make healthier food choices. A well-rounded diet focuses on whole grains, non-starchy vegetables and low-fat proteins such as chicken or fish. You limit sugar, alcohol and simple carbohydrates like white bread and pasta.

Our diabetes specialists can recommend ways to gradually incorporate more exercise into your life, such as walking, strength training and low-impact aerobics. Research shows that you can cut your risk of type 2 diabetes in half by exercising for 30 minutes each day and sticking to a healthy diet.

Even losing a small amount of weight (around 5% to 7% of your total body weight) can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. At UC Davis Health, we offer a comprehensive non-surgical weight loss program as well as weight management and health education classes.

Metformin is a medication that helps control your blood sugar. Research is ongoing about the benefits of metformin for people with prediabetes.