Is pre-diabetes a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy? my doctor said i have pre-diabetes, that is my blood sugar is high but not high enough to be called diabetes. i'm working to lower it, but i'm worried if i can't i might also get diabetic retino

Your : Your concern is understandable. There is not a clear answer to your question. Some people even at diagnosis of diabetes have some retinopathy with sugars that are not that high. But in general, the higher your a1c (sugar average) the higher your risk of retinopathy. So work to prevent diabetes from happening by losing about 10 pounds and staying physically active. Keep your a1c below 6 % if possible but definitely less than 6.5. As to what drugs you might use, see my blog post below.

Yes!!: About 10-15 % of newly diagnosed patients with diabetes, already have diabetic complications eye, kidney, nerve disease.

Yes. : You must aggressively change your lifestyle. Mobile Health games can help. Physicians recommend water, increased veggie intake and walking 10k steps a day. Changing your behavior is HARD! Here is a health game that will help! Commit to tracking your nutrition and weighing in weekly. Losing just 10 pounds can reverse diabetic state. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/personal-medicine+/id846379884?m

Yes: The diabetes prevention program (dpp- please look at their website for information) has shown that proper diet and exercise (5-7% weight loss, 30 min of moderate activity 5 days per week) can prevent progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes. This is the best stage to get motivated and start working on your diet and exercise regimen.