People seem to think diabetes is inevitable as you age. But that’s not true. Dr Yasmeen Ajaz, Specialist Endocrinologist at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, explains that it is a multifactorial disease with several risk factors that include age, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and poor diet. “While most people over the age of 60 years do have diabetes, it is not purely because of age. A combination of risk factors needs to be present for you to have diabetes as you age.” Experts suggest that everyone above the age of 35 check their blood sugar levels even if they don’t have any risk factors. If your results are normal, then get regular screenings every three years, says Dr Archana Purshothaman, Consultant Endocrinologist at Fakeeh University Hospital, Dubai Silicon Oasis. For people with risk factors, she has this advice: “Anyone with a body mass index higher than 25, irrespective of their age, and presenting additional risk factors such as high blood pressure, non-typical cholesterol levels, an inactive lifestyle, a history of polycystic ovary syndrome, heart disease, and/or having a close relative with diabetes must get tested to rule out any possibilities.” When you test you might get higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, within the 100-125mg/dL range, which is diagnosed as prediabetes. “In general, fasting blood sugar less than 100 mg/dL is normal while 100-125mg/dL is diagnosed as prediabetes,” explains Dr Mehrdad Mirouliaei, Paediatric Endocrinologist at Iranian Hospital. “And 126ml/dL or higher on two separate tests is diagnosed as diabetes. “In people with prediabetes, Hb1AC, the average level of blood sugar over the past three months, will be between 5.7 per cent and 6.4 per cent.” Dr Satendra Kumar Multani, Consultant Endocrinologist at Prime Medical Center – BurJuman and Deira, explains that prediabetes develops in genetically predisposed individuals if they become overweight or obese and follow sedentary lifestyle with unhealthy eating habits. “The presence of prediabetes denotes the presence of insulin resistance, which means the body requires more insulin to maintain blood glucose levels and pancreas must work more for that. Eventually, this leads to failure of B-cell function and reduction in insulin secretion, thus heralding the onset of type 2 diabetes.” However, Dr Omran Bedir Gatee, Consultant Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, is of the opinion that prediabetes should not be viewed as a clinical entity but rather as a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular progression. “Prediabetes is the term used for individuals whose glucose levels do not meet the criteria for diabetes yet have abnormal carbohydrate metabolism.” But do consult your primary care provider with the prediabetes results. They may refer you to a specialist in diabetes treatment (endocrinologist), a dietician or a certified diabetes educator.