Why We Started Stand Against Prediabetes
The one lesson that hits me the hardest as a pharmacist?
It came from my own family.
Four out of five of us had prediabetes—and none of us saw it coming.
In early 2024, I encouraged my family to undergo a routine blood test.
As a pharmacist, I regularly advise people about the importance of health screening. Yet, like many families, we had delayed checking our own health because everyone appeared to be well.
The results came as a surprise.
Four out of five of us—including myself—were diagnosed with prediabetes.
None of us had symptoms. None of us felt sick. We were simply living our normal lives, unaware that our blood sugar had already begun to rise above the healthy range.
That moment changed how I viewed prediabetes.
If I coudn't recognize prediabetes in my own family as a healthcare professional, how many people in the community are living with it without even knowing?
Prediabetes is More Common Than Most People Think
But the frightening part isn't that prediabetes is common.
It's that most people don't know they have it.
Prediabetes is the stage where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but have not yet reached the level required for a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.
You can continue working, exercising, caring for your family and feeling completely healthy while changes are already happening inside your body.
Research has shown that approximately one in every four Malaysian adults has prediabetes. Even more concerning, many people remain unaware until complications begin to appear.
This is why early screening matters.
The earlier we identify the condition, the greater the opportunity to prevent diabetes rather than simply treating it later.
What Exactly Is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is not "a little bit of diabetes."
It is a WHO-recognised medical condition where blood glucose levels are above normal but below the threshold for Type 2 diabetes that requires attention and proper care.
According to local clinical guidelines, an HbA1c between 5.7% and 6.2% indicates prediabetes, although the cut-off values may differ slightly between Malaysian and international guidelines.
Although many people experience no symptoms, prediabetes is associated with an increased risk of:
- Progression to Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Stroke
-
Other cardiovascular complication
The Good News: Prediabetes Can Often Be Managed
Receiving a diagnosis of prediabetes is not the end of the story.
The good news is that prediabetes is also one of the few stages where meaningful intervention can still change the outcome.
It is the beginning of an opportunity.
Research consistently shows that appropriate intervention can delay—or even prevent—the development of Type 2 diabetes.
The goal is not simply lowering blood sugar.
The goal is improving long-term metabolic health before permanent damage occurs. For many people, this includes:
- Healthier eating habits
- Sustainable weight management
- Regular physical activity
- Ongoing monitoring
- Professional healthcare support
- Medication when clinically appropriate
Lifestyle Changes Remain the Foundation
Lifestyle intervention is still the most effective first step for managing prediabetes.
However, lifestyle change involves much more than simply being told to "eat less sugar."
Successful intervention should be personalised. It considers a person's work schedule, family commitments, financial situation, eating habits, physical activity, motivation and long-term goals.
That is a remarkable result.
More importantly, these participants did not succeed through willpower alone.
They received structured coaching, regular follow-up and continuous support throughout the programme.
Many people assume they need to make dramatic lifestyle changes overnight.
That is rarely necessary.
Instead, meaningful improvements often begin with simple habits such as:
- Walking after dinner
- Choosing water instead of sugary drinks
- Increasing vegetables and dietary fibre
- Eating regular meals
- Reducing prolonged sitting
- Losing just 5–7% of body weight if overweight
The most effective lifestyle plan is not the strictest one.
It is the one you can continue for months and years.
What We Learned from the Alpro Stand Against Prediabetes Programme
At Alpro, we wanted to understand how structured follow-up could help people living with prediabetes.Participants received:
- HbA1c screening
- Personalised pharmacist counselling
- Lifestyle recommendations
- Medication education where appropriate
- Regular follow-up
After just three months, participants showed encouraging improvements. Average HbA1c improved from 5.97% to 5.80%.
Participants who maintained regular physical activity experienced even greater improvements.
Although these observations were collected from a real-world community programme rather than a randomised clinical trial, they reinforce an important message:
When people receive education, continuous encouragement and follow-up, positive change is possible.
"If I have prediabetes, do I really have to wait until I develop diabetes?"
No. And that's one of the biggest misconceptions.
When many people hear they have prediabetes, they think:
"At least it isn't diabetes yet."
Ironically, this is actually the best time to act, before permanent damage occurs.
Healthy eating, regular exercise and weight management remain the foundation of treatment. But for some people with a higher risk of progressing to Type 2 diabetes, lifestyle changes alone may not be enough.
In these situations, your doctor may recommend an appropriate treatment option as an additional step to help reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
Many people are surprised to learn that doctors sometimes prescribe medication before diabetes develops—not because you've "failed" lifestyle changes, but because early treatment may help prevent progression in people at higher risk.
One of the largest studies on diabetes prevention, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), found that intervention with medication reduced the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 31%, with even greater benefits in younger adults with obesity and those at higher metabolic risk.
The key message is simple:
Don't wait for prediabetes to become diabetes.
If you're at high risk, speak to your healthcare professional about whether lifestyle changes alone are enough, or if the right medication could play a role in your prevention plan.
How Pharmacists Can Support Your Journey
Prediabetes management is not something patients need to navigate alone. Community pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare professionals. At Alpro, our pharmacists can help you:
- Understand your HbA1c results
- Identify personal risk factors
- Set realistic lifestyle goals
- Explain prescribed medications
- Monitor your progress
- Encourage long-term adherence
- Work together with your doctor when further treatment is needed
Managing prediabetes is not just about a single blood test.
Have you ever checked your HbA1c?
If your answer is no, today is a good day to start.
HbA1c is a simple test that reflects your average blood sugar over the past 2–3 months and helps identify prediabetes before symptoms appear.
I couldn't change my family's diagnosis—but I hope our story helps someone else prevent theirs.
If you've never had an HbA1c screening, speak to your nearest Alpro pharmacist or healthcare professional to find out if you're at risk.
The best time to act isn't when diabetes starts. It's when prediabetes gives you the opportunity to prevent it. One small step today could change the course of your health for years to come.
