Health column

According to the Korean Diabetes Association (KDA)’s “Diabetes Fact Sheets in Korea 2024,” 41.1% of adults aged 30 and older in Korea, about 14.1 million people, have prediabetes. That is more than double the diabetes prevalence in the same age group (15.5%).

How is prediabetes defined?

The National Health Information Portal of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) describes prediabetes as a fasting blood glucose of 5.6–6.9 mmol/L (100–125 mg/dL) (impaired fasting glucose) or an HbA1c of 5.7–6.4%. It also includes a 2-hour blood glucose of 7.8–11.0 mmol/L (140–199 mg/dL) on a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (impaired glucose tolerance).

Why does the “grey zone” matter?

Prediabetes causes few symptoms, so it is easy to overlook. A diabetes awareness rate of 74.7% also means that about 1 in 4 people with diabetes do not know they have it. Prediabetes, too, is hard to detect unless you check your health check results.

Where should you start?

• Check the fasting blood glucose and HbA1c values on your most recent health check.
• If you have prediabetes and a BMI of 23 or higher, Korea's KDCA recommends losing and maintaining 5–10% of your body weight.
• Build at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week and muscle-strengthening exercise 2–3 times a week into your routine.