If you’re one of the more than 84 million Americans with prediabetes, you may not even know it. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a serious problem.
Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. If left unchecked, prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes, as well as other serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
The good news is that prediabetes can be reversed, and the earlier it’s detected, the better. That’s why researchers are exploring new ways to screen for the condition.
One promising method is measuring levels of three specific proteins in the blood. These proteins – known as advanced glycation end products, or AGEs – are a byproduct of sugar metabolism.
In a recent study, researchers measured levels of AGEs in the blood of more than 2,000 adults. They found that those with higher levels of AGEs were more likely to have prediabetes, even after controlling for other risk factors such as age, weight, and family history.
This simple test could be a valuable tool for detecting prediabetes, especially in people who are otherwise healthy and have no other obvious risk factors. If you’re concerned about your risk of prediabetes, talk to your doctor about whether this test might be right for you.
In the United States, it’s estimated that 84.1 million people have prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. If left untreated, prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
A new study published in the journal PLOS ONE suggests that measuring three proteins in the blood could be a helpful way to screen for undiagnosed prediabetes.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Florida, evaluated 1,212 adults who had not been previously diagnosed with diabetes. The participants were divided into two groups: those with prediabetes and those with normal blood sugar levels.
The researchers found that people with prediabetes had higher levels of two proteins ( known as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen) and one fat (known as triglycerides) in their blood than people with normal blood sugar levels.
The findings suggest that measuring these three proteins could be a helpful way to screen for undiagnosed prediabetes. This is especially important because many people with prediabetes are not aware that they have the condition.
Detecting the undetected: Measuring levels of three proteins in the blood can aid detection of undiagnosed prediabetes
In the United States, it’s estimated that 84.1 million people have prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. If left untreated, prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
A new study published in the journal PLOS ONE suggests that measuring three proteins in the blood could be a helpful way to screen for undiagnosed prediabetes.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Florida, evaluated 1,212 adults who had not been previously diagnosed with diabetes. The participants were divided into two groups: those with prediabetes and those with normal blood sugar levels.
The researchers found that people with prediabetes had higher levels of two proteins ( known as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen) and one fat (known as triglycerides) in their blood than people with normal blood sugar levels.
The findings suggest that measuring these three proteins could be a helpful way to screen for undiagnosed prediabetes. This is especially important because many people with prediabetes are not aware that they have the condition.
Early detection of prediabetes is important because it gives people the opportunity to make lifestyle changes that can prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes. These lifestyle changes include eating a healthy diet, becoming more physically active, and losing weight.
If you’re concerned that you might have prediabetes, talk to your doctor about whether or not a protein test might be right for you.
