How long can you be a 'borderline' diabetic and not damage your health? how long can you be a 'borderline' diabetic and not damage your health? when do you go from diet/exercise to medication to lower blood sugars?

This : This is a good question for which there is no clear answer. But along with having borderline levels of blood glucose, people who are borderline in glucose often have increased blood pressure and poor levels of good cholesterol, triglycerides and sometimes LDL cholesterol. These abnormalities plus being overweight contribute to a definite increased risk heart disease. Keep in mind that a normal blood sugar is definitely below 100 fasting and below 140 2 hours after a meal. The hemoglobin a1c should be below 6%. I generally consider medication in people who have no other life threatening conditions (like cancer or advanced heart disease) if their hemoglobin a1c is above 6 despite diet and exercise.