Prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes are among the most common chronic conditions affecting adults today. They develop gradually, often without symptoms, but have a profound impact on long-term health.
Understanding what these conditions mean, how they differ, and what steps you can take is essential for preventing complications and improving your overall well-being.
Prediabetes vs. Type 2 Diabetes
Prediabetes is an early warning sign. It means your blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet in the range for diabetes. At this stage, the body still produces insulin, but the cells are starting to resist its effects, a problem known as insulin resistance.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when this resistance becomes severe and the pancreas can no longer keep up by producing extra insulin. Over time, sugar builds up in the blood instead of fueling your body the way it should.
Prediabetes can often be reversed through lifestyle changes. Type 2 diabetes, once established, usually requires more comprehensive management
Doctors often look at your A1C which is a test that shows your average blood sugar over three months. Here’s what those numbers mean:
- Normal: A1C below 5.7%
- Prediabetes: A1C between 5.7% and 6.4%
- Type 2 diabetes: A1C 6.5% or higher
When was the last time you had yours checked?
What Symptoms Should You Look For?
The tricky part is that prediabetes usually has no obvious symptoms. Many people feel perfectly fine, until they don’t. Still, there are early clues you can watch for:
- Feeling unusually tired after meals
- Increased thirst or hunger
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Unexplained weight changes
- Blurry vision
- Cuts or wounds that heal slowly
Even one or two of these symptoms can be a signal worth paying attention to. Have you noticed any of these changes in your daily life?
Why Does This Happen?
It’s easy to think Type 2 diabetes is just about eating too much sugar. But the truth is more complex. The main culprit is something called insulin resistance, where your body’s cells stop responding to insulin properly.
Several factors can lead to this:
- Eating too many processed foods and sugary drinks
- Sitting too much and moving too little
- Hormonal changes, like menopause or thyroid problems
- Chronic stress and poor sleep, which raise cortisol levels and disrupt blood sugar levels
- Genetics and family history
These factors don’t work in isolation. At Kairos, we take time to understand your unique story so we can target the root causes.
Who Is at Risk?
Anyone can develop prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes, but some people face a higher risk than others. Factors you can’t change, like age and genetics, play a role, but many risks can be reduced with the right care.
The risk increases after age 45, especially if you have a family history of diabetes. Being overweight or carrying extra weight around the abdomen is another major contributor because it increases insulin resistance.
Women who experienced gestational diabetes during pregnancy are also at greater risk later in life. Certain health conditions, such as PCOS, can make it harder to regulate blood sugar.
Understanding these risks gives you the power to act early and protect your long-term health.
Why Acting Early Matters?
You might feel fine today, but uncontrolled blood sugar can quietly damage your body over time. Over time, it can harm blood vessels, nerves, and vital organs, setting the stage for serious health issues such as:
- Heart disease and stroke
- Kidney disease
- Nerve damage
- Vision problems and even vision loss
- Poor wound healing and higher infection risk
Research shows that early lifestyle changes can prevent prediabetes from turning into diabetes, or even reverse it. That’s why catching it early is so important.
How We Help at Kairos Integrative Care
At Kairos, we don’t just look at your blood sugar and send you home with generic advice. We dig deeper because your body is unique, so is the reason your blood sugar is out of balance.
Here’s what our approach looks like:
- We order advanced labs, not just glucose and A1C, but insulin, inflammation markers, and tests for liver and hormone health.
- We identify the root causes behind your imbalance, whether it’s stress, hormones, diet, or genetics.
- We create a personalized plan that fits your life. That means realistic nutrition advice, simple ways to move more, stress and sleep strategies, and, if needed, medications or supplements.
What Can You Start Doing Today?
Improving blood sugar doesn’t mean turning your life upside down. We recommend starting with simple real-life changes such as:
- Add more fiber-rich foods like vegetables, beans, and oats to your meals.
- Take a short 10-minute walk after lunch or dinner to help lower blood sugar.
- Swap sugary drinks for water or unsweetened tea.
- Set a bedtime routine and aim for 7–8 hours of sleep.
Conclusion
Prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes aren’t life sentences, they’re signals. Signals that your body needs care, attention, and support.
At Kairos Health Integrative Primary Care, Lola, one of our board certified practitioners, helps patients uncover what’s really driving their blood sugar changes and builds plans that fit real life. We serve patients in Houston and Sugar Land and offer telehealth options across Texas.
We accept most major insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Tricare & more.
Ready to take the next step? Book your appointment today!
