Shifting the prediabetes lens: A key opportunity for lasting glucose health

Published: Jun. 12, 2025

3 min read

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The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.

Prediabetes is a term many of us have heard before. Most people, healthcare professionals included, think of it mainly as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. But what if we shifted our thinking? What if prediabetes wasn’t just a warning sign, but a call to action?

Rather than seeing it as the first stop on the road to diabetes, let’s recognize it as its own condition. One that deserves attention, right now. Because a diagnosis of prediabetes is more than a wake-up call; it’s an opportunity to change course and protect your long-term glucose health.

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What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes means your glucose levels are elevated, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. You might hear different names for it (impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or even non-diabetic hyperglycemia) but they all point to the same thing: your body’s ability to regulate glucose isn’t working optimally.

There are a few ways prediabetes is usually diagnosed:

Fasting glucose levels between 100–125 mg/dL
A blood glucose reading between 140–199 mg/dL two hours after a glucose tolerance test
An A1C level between 5.7–6.4%

When you have prediabetes, you may not feel different or have any symptoms. That's what makes it tricky, and why awareness and prevention is so important.

The risk goes beyond diabetes

A recent article in The Lancet emphasized that prediabetes is “much more than just a risk factor” for developing type 2 diabetes. And that distinction matters. Because the risks aren’t just about what might happen down the road. They’re already in play.

Prediabetes is linked to increased risk of heart disease and stroke, even if you never progress to type 2 diabetes. A 2020 meta-analysis found that people with prediabetes had a:

13% higher risk of death from any cause
15% higher risk of cardiovascular disease
16% higher risk of coronary heart disease
14% higher risk of stroke

Those numbers underscore just how important it is to take prediabetes seriously and treat it while you have the chance.

3 ways to take action

These actionable steps can pave the way toward prediabetes prevention and a healthier future.

1. Recognize prediabetes signs

Raising awareness is the first step. If more people, and more healthcare professionals, recognize prediabetes early, there’s more time to act and make meaningful changes. That means helping people understand the risk factors and how to reduce them. These include things like being overweight, not getting enough physical activity, eating highly processed foods, or having a family history of diabetes. Certain populations, including Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults, are also more likely to be affected.

But the most important takeaway is this: it’s not too late. Catching prediabetes early gives you a real shot at reversing the trend and preventing more serious issues down the line.

2. Track your glucose to help uncover patterns

A glucose biosensor like Stelo can help you get a clearer view of what’s happening inside your body. It’s not about chasing perfect numbers. It’s about seeing trends, catching shifts early, and learning how your choices impact your glucose.

3. Make small adjustments to form healthy habits

Maybe you notice your fasting glucose levels hovering above 100 mg/dL or see a sharper rise after certain meals or drinks. With Stelo, you can start connecting those dots and making small, smart adjustments that add up over time. That might mean some physical activity after a meal, or changing up ingredients, or noticing how sleep and stress play into the bigger picture. And when it comes to prediabetes, catching those patterns early could be the thing that helps you change course before bigger problems show up.

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Your window to make a change

Prediabetes doesn’t mean you’re stuck. It means you have time. Time to listen to your body, rethink your habits, and reshape your future health. The sooner you start, the more options you have. And with the right insights and support, you can move forward with confidence, not confusion.

*For Stelo app compatibility information, visit stelo.com/compatibility.