Prediabetes Definition, Signs & Symptoms: Why Experts are Raising Awareness About This Condition

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Diabetes is a disease that affects millions worldwide, but in the United States alone, about 21.9 million people are affected by the disease, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. In fact, type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% to 95% of diagnosed diabetes cases among American adults. the NIDDK also reports that prediabetes affects about 86 million adults in the United States.

But what exactly is prediabetes? According to Livescience, prediabetes is when one's blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Unfortunately, only 10% of those who are prediabetic know of their condition.

According to the CDC, prediabetes can be alleviated through a lifestyle change, including diet and exercise, but the organization estimates that about 30% of prediabetic people will develop type 2 diabetes within five years if it is left untreated. They will also be at higher risk for heart attack or stroke.

CBS News reports that because of the alarming rate of diabetes and prediabetes in the country, four global health organizations have teamed up to raise awareness on the issue and share tips on how to prevent it. The American Diabetes Association, the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Ad Council have collectively released the first national public service advertising (PSA) campaign to raise awareness on prediabetes.

The PSA is innovative, as it is in some ways interactive. A doctor asks several questions to the viewers, such as, "Are you inactive?", "Are you overweight?", "Does type 2 diabetes run in your family?", among others. He also asks viewers to raise one finger every time they answer yes to his questions. If the viewer has counted more than five "yes" answers by the end of the ad, it is highly encouraged that he or she consult a doctor and get checked for prediabetes. The ads even have a Spanish version for the Latin community. What's even more attention-grabbing is the humorous tone used by the slightly quirky doctor in the ads.

"This campaign, after a lot of focus testing and research with Ogilvy and Mather, the ad agency, and the Ad Council, we decided that humor was the way to go. It's lighter but it does grab peoples' attention," CDC Diabetes Translation Director Ann Albright told CBS News, explaining that they also targeted viewers aged 40 to 60. "It's a clever way of helping people see themselves."

Watch both the English and Spanish versions below and for more information on prediabetes or to take the quick online risk test, visit DoIHavePrediabetes.org.