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Pre-diabetes describes blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classed as type 2 diabetes. It's an important warning sign, as many people with pre-diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes without lifestyle changes.
Evidence checked against current HSE guidance for Pre-diabetes, covering the article's core clinical information and relevant assessment, management or safety considerations.
Public health education article
Self-care advice — Ask your GP for a follow-up blood sugar test if you've been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, to monitor your progress over time.
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Pre-diabetes describes blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classed as type 2 diabetes. It's an important warning sign, as many people with pre-diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes without lifestyle changes.
Topic-specific prevention and risk reduction will be added during the article-specific evidence audit.
You've been told you have pre-diabetes and want guidance on next steps
Pre-diabetes describes blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classed as type 2 diabetes. It's an important warning sign, as many people with pre-diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes without lifestyle changes.
Pre-diabetes often has no noticeable symptoms and is usually picked up through routine blood tests. The good news is that it's frequently reversible with changes to diet, physical activity, and weight.
Ask your GP for a follow-up blood sugar test if you've been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, to monitor your progress over time.
These measures can help ease symptoms, support recovery, and reduce the chance of things worsening — but they don't replace medical advice if symptoms are severe or persistent.
BarnMD Health Intelligence uses authoritative and clinically relevant sources appropriate to the topic. References are shown so readers can inspect the evidence directly.
BarnMD Health Library provides general health education for public health literacy. Reading this article does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and this information is not a diagnosis, prescription, or personalised treatment plan. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek urgent or emergency medical attention.
Pre-diabetes is a valuable warning sign, and for many people, it's possible to bring blood sugar back to a healthy range through lifestyle changes alone.
Even modest, sustained changes to diet, activity, and weight can significantly reduce your risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes.