Self-Reported Prediabetes and Risk-Reduction Activities

At least one fourth of U.S. adults are known to have prediabetes, a condition defined as having impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or both. Persons with prediabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. However, lifestyle changes can prevent or delay development of diabetes and its complications among persons with prediabetes. To assess the prevalence of self-reported prediabetes among U.S. adults and the prevalence of activities that can reduce the risk for diabetes, CDC analyzed responses to questions regarding prediabetes asked for the first time in the 2006 National Health Interview Survey. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which determined that, although at least one fourth of U.S. adults are known to have prediabetes through surveys that included laboratory testing, in 2006, only an estimated 4% of U.S. adults had been told they had prediabetes. Among those who had been told they had prediabetes, 68% had tried to lose or control weight, 55% had increased physical activity or exercise, 60% had reduced dietary fat or calories, and 42% had engaged in all three activities. Persons at greater risk for diabetes should be tested according to published recommendations, and persons with prediabetes should lose or control their weight and increase their physical activity to reduce their risk for developing diabetes. In 2006, an estimated 4.0% of U.S. adults had self-reported prediabetes (Table). Among them, 64.4% had been told they had borderline diabetes. Percentages for the other four conditions indicative of prediabetes were as follows: high blood sugar, 38.3%; prediabetes itself, 33.7%; impaired glucose tolerance, 15.5%; and impaired fasting glucose, 15.2%. In addition, 43.3% had been told that they had two or more of the five conditions. Among adults with self-reported prediabetes, 67.6% had been trying to lose or control weight during the preceding 12 months, 59.8% had reduced dietary fat or calories, and 54.7% had increased physical activity or exercise. Although 42.1% reported engaging in all three activities during the preceding 12 months, 23.9% had not engaged in any of these risk-reduction activities (Figure).