Other - Pre-Diabetes 

There are two types of pre-diabetes: Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Impaired Fasting Glucose. Having either condition can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, however two out of three people at risk can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes by making positive lifestyle changes. These changes include increasing physical activity levels, having a healthy eating pattern, reducing body fat and quitting smoking.

Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT)
IGT is a condition closely related to type 2 diabetes. It occurs when the blood glucose level is higher than normal, but not to the level to be diagnosed with diabetes.

IGT most commonly occurs in people who are overweight and physically inactive. People who carry excess weight around the waistline are at greatest risk.

There are often no symptoms associated with IGT therefore if you have one or more risk factors it is important that a doctor assesses you for diabetes. Your doctor should have a sample of blood sent to a laboratory, and this will decide if he needs to perform a test called a 'oral glucose tolerance test' to determine if you have IGT.

Impaired Glucose Fasting (IGF)
Having IGF also means that blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not in the diabetes range. IFG occurs less frequently than IGT.

Note: Self Blood Glucose Monitoring
Self blood glucose monitoring for IFG/IFT is not necessary or recommended by Diabetes Tasmania. Ask your GP for a fasting glucose test once a year instead.