Prediabetes and T2D prevention
Prediabetes is a window of opportunity. Lifestyle change in this period cuts T2D incidence by 58% (DPP). Periodic home readings are an inexpensive way to confirm the trend is heading the right way.
Who qualifies
Per ADA 2024, prediabetes is defined by HbA1c 5.7–6.4%, fasting glucose 5.6–6.9 mmol/L, or 7.8–11.0 mmol/L 2 h post-OGTT. Any of the three is sufficient. Without intervention, 11–37% of patients with prediabetes progress to T2D within 5 years.
What to do at the prediabetes stage
Fasting reading twice a month
Not every day — that's excess strain. Every two weeks fasting gives the trend. Aim for < 5.6 mmol/L.
Paired reading after a new dish
Curious how your body reacts to plov, shashlik, a birthday cake? Measure before-meal + 2 hours after. A safe way to learn your own glycemic response.
Lab HbA1c every 6 months
The glucometer shows daily values; HbA1c shows the long-term trend. They don't replace each other. Home readings are tactical monitoring; HbA1c is strategic.
Metformin — if prescribed
ADA recommends metformin for prediabetes in patients < 60 with BMI > 35 or a history of GDM. On metformin you don't need to change SMBG frequency — the drug doesn't cause hypoglycemia.
Minimal infrastructure investment
Prediabetes doesn't justify a CGM sensor and its consumables — measurement frequency is too low. An ISO-certified meter and a pack of 50 strips covers six months of preventive monitoring. iXell's 5-year warranty spans the entire critical window between prediabetes diagnosis and its outcome.
References
Diabetes Prevention Program — 58% T2D risk reduction via lifestyle
Knowler W.C. et al. · New England Journal of Medicine · 2002
On requestADA Standards of Care 2024 — prevention and prediabetes
Diabetes Care · 2024
On request