It used to be a warning sign that diabetes might be close at hand. “A patient with pre-diabetes, if they don’t follow a meal plan and exercise and try to improve their blood sugar level and lose weight, they’re at about a 58 percent increase of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life,” says Sharon Krispinsky, Certified Diabetes Nurse Educator for Lee Memorial Health System.

In fact, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has just appointed a task force to create new guidelines for managing pre-diabetes. “We as a society have a tendency to eat a very high fat diet, lots of fast foods because we are a very quick-oriented society,” adds Krispinsky.

A pre-diabetic has higher than normal blood sugar levels. Newly released evidence finds those diagnosed with pre-diabetes face the same deadly health risks as those who are diabetic: things such as eye, kidney, or nerve damage.

“Also, we eat a lot of carbohydrates and carbohydrates are what rally packs on the calories and causes us to gain weight and it keeps patients blood-sugars elevated, warns Krispinsky. She adds just a few changes to your lifestyle can make all the difference. “Research shows that even if you lose 5 to 10 percent of your body weight, it can dramatically improve your overall health.”

She also encourages everyone, whether diagnosed or not, to make sure they have their glucose levels measured during their yearly exam to prevent any potential life-threatening problems.