Pre-diabetes has been in the headlines lately. Many adults may have pre-diabetes and not know it. To help you stay current, here are three facts you should know.

Fact #1: As many as one in four adults in the U.S. has pre-diabetes.
This means they have higher than normal blood sugar, but it’s not high enough to be true diabetes. Within 10 years, many people with pre-diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes.

However, a healthy lifestyle can help the body use glucose better so that it doesn’t build up in the blood. If you have pre-diabetes, you may reduce your risk for full diabetes by more than half if you lose 5 to 7 percent of your body weight by exercising and eating healthy.

Fact #2: Pre-diabetes puts the heart at risk.
Research has shown that people with pre-diabetes have a higher risk for heart disease. Specifically, they are more likely to have atherosclerosis than people who have normal blood sugar levels. Your risk increases further if you develop diabetes.

Fact #3: People with pre-diabetes rarely have symptoms.
It’s a good idea to see your doctor and get your blood sugar tested if you are age 45 or older. Younger people may want to ask their doctor about testing if they are overweight and have at least one other risk factor for diabetes. These include:

• Not exercising regularly
• Being African-American, Asian-American, or Latino
• Having low HDL, or “good,” cholesterol or high triglyceride levels