Question:
I have went to classes for my diabetes and they have said over and over there is no such thing a pre diabetic,
you either are or your not.... I don't understand a pre diabetic, do you think it means people at risk for being a diabetic?"
I also learned once you have diabetes you will always be a diabetic...
But you can control the blood sugars and be med free..... so I get confused when I hear pre diabetic....
Answer:
Diabetes and pre-diabetes (or IGT) are clearly the same thing, differing
only in degree.
The distinction is for purposes of treatment and insurance. With
pre-diabetes they warn you to watch your eating but they don't want to
pay for any treatment or drugs. My sister has good fasting blood sugars
but she can spike over 200. Kaiser won't give her meds. The doctor
is giving her minimal (250 mg) metformin but even that is "off-label"
(unapproved) to Kaiser.
At the same time, being pre-diabetic is an advantage, because once
you're officially diagnosed as a diabetic, it's a bitch to ever get
insurance again.
