About 54 million Americans have pre-diabetes. By managing your diet, weight and blood sugar, you may avoid developing full-blown diabetes. Read on to learn more.

Q: Am I at risk for pre-diabetes?
A: If you are age 45 or older and overweight, you are more likely to get pre-diabetes. You are also at risk if you are younger than age 45 and overweight and have a risk factor such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, or a parent, brother or sister with diabetes.

Q: Why do I need to know if I have pre-diabetes?
A: Making lifestyle changes now may help prevent diabetes. Losing weight and exercising early on may return a high blood sugar level to the normal range. Men with a waistline more than 40 inches and women with a waistline more than 35 inches are also at risk.

Q: Who should get tested for pre-diabetes?
A: See your doctor if you are younger than age 45 and obese — meaning that you have a body mass index of 30 or higher. Your doctor will check your blood pressure and cholesterol. If these are high, your doctor will test you for pre-diabetes. If you’re overweight or obese and age 45 or older, you should be checked for pre-diabetes. If your weight is normal and you’re older than age 45, ask your doctor whether testing is right for you.

No matter what your age is, your doctor may test you for pre-diabetes if you have these risk factors: a family history of diabetes, a history of gestational diabetes, or you are African-American, Hispanic/Latino or Asian-American.

Q: How can I lower my risk?
A: See how to lower your risk by taking a quiz on prediabetes. Go to www.paramounthealthcare.com and click on “Better Health for Life,” “Interactive Tools,” “Quizzes,” then “Pre-Diabetes Quiz.”