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prediabetes

American  
[pree-dahy-uh-bee-tis, -teez, pree-dahy-] / priˌdaɪ əˈbi tɪs, -tiz, ˌpri daɪ- /

noun

Pathology.
  1. a condition in which carbohydrate metabolism is mildly abnormal but other criteria indicating diabetes mellitus are absent.

  2. a condition in which the development of diabetes mellitus is expected.


Other Word Forms

  • prediabetic adjective

Etymology

Origin of prediabetes

First recorded in 1935–40; pre- + diabetes

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Diabetes rates continue to rise worldwide, and many individuals with prediabetes struggle to meet weight-loss targets.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

The study found that individuals who reversed prediabetes without losing weight tended to shift fat away from their abdominal organs and toward areas under the skin, even when their overall weight did not change.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

By his final year on the job, his doctor told him he was dealing with prediabetes, fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, acid reflux, and obesity.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

During this period, the researchers found that higher consumption of UPFs was tied to an increased likelihood of developing prediabetes, an early stage of elevated blood sugar that can progress to diabetes.

From Science Daily • Nov. 17, 2025

The researchers observed that certain personal and demographic factors further intensified the likelihood of developing prediabetes or diabetes.

From Science Daily • Nov. 13, 2025