Prediabetes: what your numbers mean
Prediabetes is a warning light, not a diagnosis of diabetes. The numbers below define the range and explain why tracking helps.
In short: An A1C of 5.7–6.4% or fasting glucose of 100–125 mg/dL is the prediabetes range.
Prediabetes means your glucose is higher than typical but not yet in the diabetes range. The common thresholds are an A1C of 5.7–6.4%, a fasting glucose of 100–125 mg/dL (5.6–6.9 mmol/L), or a two-hour value of 140–199 mg/dL on a glucose tolerance test.
It matters because it's often reversible and because it's a strong, early signal. Many people have no symptoms, so a number from routine bloodwork is frequently the first sign. It also responds well to tracking: you can watch the effect of changes you make instead of waiting a year for the next lab.
Logging fasting readings, after-meal readings, and weight over time shows whether your numbers are trending toward or away from the diabetes range. This is general information; your clinician interprets your results in the context of your health.