Prevention and Management of Prediabetes

Diabetes, one of the representative chronic diseases and a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is continuously increasing in prevalence. The complications associated with metabolic diseases, such as hypertension and dyslipidemia are becoming significant public health concern. In general, diabetes is a progressive disease that requires active treatment upon onset, and the number of medications needed tends to increase over time. Due to these characteristics, treatment and management in the prediabetic stage are being emphasized. In addition to the increasing prevalence of diabetes, the prevalence of prediabetes in Korea is also gradually increasing to 41.1% in adults aged 30 years or older and 47.7% in adults aged 65 years or older. This trend is driven by various factors such as westernized lifestyle, rising obesity rates, and environmental factors such as age, diet, lack of exercise, stress, and medications. In this article, I introduce key points for prevention of progression to diabetes in the prediabetic stage.