Skip directly to searchSkip directly to the site navigationSkip directly to the page's main content

PHOM Indicator Profile Report of Prediabetes

Why Is This Important?

The American Diabetes Association defines "prediabetes" as a fasting plasma glucose level between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL. A1C tests are commonly used for diagnosing prediabetes. A1C levels between 5.7% to 6.4% are used to indicate prediabetes. Another test used is the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. Values between 140 mg/dL and 199 mg/dL indicate prediabetes. Although blood sugar levels for prediabetes do not meet the clinical threshold for a diagnosis of diabetes, individuals with prediabetes still have an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. However, many people with prediabetes are unaware of their condition. Once individuals are aware that they have prediabetes and of their increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular complications, they can make the necessary lifestyle changes to prevent or at least delay progression to type 2 diabetes. Simple lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating more fruits and vegetables, and increasing physical activity, can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Without making lifestyle changes, approximately half of individuals diagnosed with prediabetes progress to diabetes within ten years. More information about the clinical thresholds for prediabetes can be found at http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diagnosis.

Prediabetes (Crude Rates) by Age and Sex, Utah, 2020

::chart - missing::
confidence limits
The rate of prediabetes diagnosis increases after age 50 for both men and women.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.health.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

Data Notes

In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment to increase the precision of the estimates. With this change, Utah data is more consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Data used in graphs from 2011 forward have been updated to reflect this change.   Prediabetes questions were not asked in Utah in 2015 or 2019.

Risk Factors

Some people diagnosed with prediabetes will develop diabetes. Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for developing diabetes. The risk of developing diabetes can be substantially reduced through weight loss and regular physical activity. The National Diabetes Primary Prevention Study showed that weight loss and participation in regular physical activity can significantly decrease the risk of diabetes . The clinical trial included over 3,000 people who had impaired fasting glucose and were at an increased risk for developing diabetes. Participants who engaged in moderately intense physical activity for 30 minutes per day and lost 5 to 7% of their body weight decreased their risk of diabetes dramatically. This change was effective for all participants in the study, regardless of age or ethnic group (see [https://www.niddk.nih.gov/about-niddk/research-areas/diabetes/diabetes-prevention-program-dpp?dkrd=prspt1922 Diabetes Prevention Program, NIH]). Some risk factors cannot be modified, such as older age or membership in a minority racial or ethnic group. Nevertheless, risk can be substantially reduced through adhering to a nutritious diet and participating in regular physical activity.

How Are We Doing?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about one-third of U.S. adults (aged 20 and over) have prediabetes. Most people with prediabetes do not know they have it. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has been working to increase awareness of prediabetes. In 2016, 5.2% of adults reported they had been told by a health care provider that they had prediabetes (crude rates). Data collected in 2020 (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) showed this percentage increased to 10.2% (crude rates). While this increased rate may be partly due to a true increase, it likely reflects increased awareness by providers and patients.

What Is Being Done?

In 2015, DHHS received funding to increase awareness and prevention of prediabetes. National data suggest that many individuals have prediabetes but have not been diagnosed by a healthcare provider and are not aware they have it due to its unclear symptoms. DHHS is working to increase awareness of this condition among health care providers, as well as individuals at risk by promoting and supporting different programs that target different stages of diabetes prevention.

Healthy People Objective: Increase prevention behaviors in persons at high risk for diabetes with pre-diabetes

U.S. Target: Not applicable, see subobjectives in this category

Date Indicator Content Last Updated: 06/14/2023


Other Views

The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.state.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 13:00:43 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.state.gov ".

Content updated: Wed, 14 Jun 2023 09:07:40 MDT