Pre-diabetes

Nearly one in four adults over the age of 25 years has either diabetes or a condition known as ‘pre-diabetes’. There are two conditions that fit into this category - Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) - when the blood glucose level is higher than it should be after fasting for eight hours (between 5.5 and 7.0 mmol/L) and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) which is diagnosed using an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and the two hour blood test is higher than it should be, but in both cases not high enough to diagnose diabetes.

How do you know if you have pre-diabetes?

Any glucose test, fasting or not, that shows higher than normal blood glucose levels needs to be checked further. A doctor may order an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) to check to see if a person has diabetes or is at high risk for diabetes (prediabetes).

What is the treatment?

The treatment involves lifestyle changes to help people make long term changes to their weight and physical activity which will help to prevent future diabetes.

People with pre-diabetes are also at increased risk of heart disease, so controlling blood pressure and blood cholesterol and triglycerides is also important.

The Life! Taking Action on Diabetes program co-ordinated by Diabetes Australia - Vic is a new Victorian type 2 diabetes prevention program. It is an evidence based way to prevent type 2 diabetes in the community.

Find out more about the Life! Taking action on diabetes program or contact 13RISK (13 7475) or email

Who is at risk of developing pre-diabetes?

The risk factors for pre-diabetes are the same as those for type 2 diabetes. Find out more about Who is at risk.

To assess your risk of type 2 diabetes go to the Life! website and take the test.

Can type 2 diabetes be avoided?

Evidence shows that people with pre-diabetes can delay or reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by adopting the following lifestyle changes. However it can be difficult and most people require support to do this. The Life! program has been designed to help people make the needed changes.

Healthy eating

To eat healthily, your meals need to be lower in fat, particularly saturated fat and based on high fibre carbohydrate foods such as wholegrain breads, cereals, beans, lentils, vegetables and fruits. For more detailed information and to work out a meal plan that’s right for you, talk to an Accredited Practising Dietitian or call DA–Vic on 1300 136 588 to speak to a dietitian.

Find out more about Healthy eating to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes