Las Vegas NowExperts Discuss Guidelines For Treating Pre-Diabetes

Experts Discuss Guidelines For Treating Pre-Diabetes

Patients who are told they have pre-diabetes should realize they have a major opportunity. The diagnosis offers a warning that the patient is on the path to becoming diabetic. Blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classified as diabetes. And now, experts are discussing guidelines for treating pre-diabetes.

A diagnoses of pre-diabetes should be a call to action for the patient and the doctor, and a new consensus of doctors suggests that treatments include both lifestyle changes and -- when appropriate -- medication.

But Las Vegas endocrinologist Fred Toffel says the one-two punch may not apply to the fastest growing segment of our diabetic population.

"The big problem today and what's really going to be the epidemic and what we have to decide what to do, and is a harder population to deal with, is our adolescents who have pre-diabetes. Because some of these medications aren't indicated for use in children," he said.

Fortunately, in many cases, lifestyle changes alone, including diet and exercise, can make the difference. Over 50 million adults in the U.S. have pre-diabetes. But Dr. Toffel says more testing needs to be done in order to slow the surge is diabetes.

For more about the pre-diabetes consensus, click here.