Beware: Pre-Diabetes Can be as Deadly as Diabetes

Filed in archive Information , Research on June 20, 2007

We already know that diabetes can lead to the following complications: blindness, limb loss, severe heart disease and early death.

But we must not underestimate the dangers of exhibiting the earliest signs of diabetes - condition called pre-diabetes - because individuals suffering from this condition are more than twice as likely to die from a cardiovascular disease after five years.

Such were the findings of researchers at the International Diabetes Institute (IDI) in Melbourne, Australia - adding strength to the argument that pre-diabetics should already be treated with diabetes drugs before they even develop the disease.

According to IDI director Professor Paul Zimmet:

"If their risk of heart disease is this high before they even have get diabetes, it makes sense to try to divert the full impact in advance.

One in five Australians have pre-diabetes, which means they have trouble metabolizing sugar.

If I might add, not only should pre-diabetics be treated with diabetes drugs but most importantly should already observe diet and lifestyle changes that diabetics are advised to do so.

Read the full report.