Should you worry about prediabetes?

Medicare covers the cost of a diabetes prevention program for the 23 million people diagnosed with prediabetes. Prediabetes is concerning because it can lead to diabetes. The New York Times reports on a new study indicating that prediabetes should not be a serious concern.

People with diabetes have 6.5 percent or more sugar circulating in their blood at a given time—that’s their hemoglobin reading. People with prediabetes have readings of 5.7 percent to 6.4 percent. They usually don’t have any symptoms. What happens if people with prediabetes go untreated?

The new study conducted on older adults, over several years, shows that most people with higher than normal hemoglobin, but who do not have diabetes, have blood sugar levels that return to normal. A far smaller number end up with diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious disease that can cause blindness, harm your kidneys, cause heart attack and stroke. It should not be taken lightly. But, these conditions develop over a long period of time. Many people don’t live long enough to see them develop.

Prediabetes is a condition common in a very large portion of older adults. Indeed, a CDC instrument that screens for prediabetes, doIhaveprediabetes.org, finds that just about everyone 60 and older have it.

So, don’t sweat a diagnosis of prediabetes. It’s far better to take care of yourself: exercise and eat right, keep a healthy weight and don’t smoke.

Here’s more from Just Care:

• Medicare covers diabetes prevention program
• Insurers drive up costs for people with diabetes
• You might pay less for insulin through Medicare Part D, beginning in 2021
• Diabetes is common among older adults: Know the symptoms
• Get the preventive care you need: Medicare pays for it