A recent study reveals that dysglycemia affects over 800 million people globally, with the numbers rising every year. The condition is a challenge to health systems and economies, placing a massive strain on both.

Statistics reveal that the worldwide health expenditure for diabetes in 2021 was an estimated $966 billion, which dysglycemia contributes to. Dysglycemia refers to any abnormalities in blood sugar stability and often precedes the development of diabetes.

Many believe that this rise in dysglycemia cases worldwide requires a global call to action. If you work in public health or you’re considering a program like a graduate certificate in public health online, you may end up being part of the solution.

If you’re interested in the world of healthcare or just looking for tips to prevent dysglycemia, this article is for you. It covers everything you need to know about the condition, its link to diabetes, and treatment options.

What is dysglycemia?

Dysglycemia is an umbrella term that covers any abnormalities in an individual’s blood sugar stability. The term also includes the following conditions:

  • Hypoglycemia: This refers to when a person has low blood sugar. It’s also more common in diabetics.
  • Hyperglycemia: This refers to when a person’s body doesn’t produce enough insulin, which results in high blood sugar.

Blood sugar (glucose) levels are regulated by insulin, a hormone in our body that ensures the levels stay within a normal range. Insulin does this by helping the tissue in your body take the sugar in your blood (glucose) and convert it into energy.

If this process doesn’t work properly and a person’s body doesn’t have enough insulin, the glucose will build up in their bloodstream instead of providing energy to the rest of their body. This then leads to unstable blood sugar levels and dysglycemia.

The connection to diabetes

While dysglycemia and diabetes are closely linked, it’s important not to confuse the two terms or use them interchangeably. While dysglycemia as an umbrella term includes diabetes, it also refers to other conditions, some of them increasing the risk of developing diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus, often shortened to ‘diabetes’, is a chronic condition where there is too much glucose in a person’s bloodstream. Over time, this high level of glucose can damage blood vessels and nerves, causing long-term health complications.

There are three main types of diabetes:

  • Type 1 diabetes:
  • Type 2 diabetes:
  • Gestational diabetes:

As dysglycemia is an umbrella term referring to abnormalities in blood sugar levels, it includes type 2 diabetes. It’s essential to remember, however, that dysglycemia also covers other conditions, some related to diabetes, such as pre-diabetes, and some not.

Pre-diabetes & dysglycemia

Pre-diabetes is a condition where an individual’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. It also falls under the umbrella of dysglycemia, and they both precede diabetes.

If a person has a form of dysglycemia that raises their blood sugar levels higher than normal, this can be considered pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes and dysglycemia can be situational and temporary, which means they can be treated.

Diagnosing dysglycemia

It is possible to diagnose dysglycemia, pre-diabetes, and diabetes, which is important for strengthening the response to the rising prevalence of dysglycemia worldwide. It’s typically diagnosed through a blood test procedure known as an ‘oral glucose tolerance test’ (OGTT).

The oral glucose tolerance test is considered the best way to diagnose dysglycemia, pre-diabetes, and diabetes. It consists of a patient getting their blood drawn while fasting, consuming a ‘glucose drink’, and then having their blood drawn again two hours later.

If the patient’s blood sugar levels stay elevated after two hours, this can be an indicator of dysglycemia, pre-diabetes, and/or diabetes. If you’re concerned that you may have diabetes, we recommend speaking to your doctor, who can order the test.

Promoting awareness of how dysglycemia and related blood sugar conditions are diagnosed is the first step to combating the rising dysglycemia rates worldwide. More people need to know about the OGTT, and it needs to be more accessible for the general public.

At the time of writing, the oral glucose tolerance test is Medicare rebatable. Typically, the test requires a booking at a dedicated OGTT pathology collection centre, as it requires the patient to stay for a minimum of two hours.

Management and treatment

The treatment and management of dysglycemia will depend on the driving causes of the fluctuations in the person’s blood sugar level. It may require immediate treatment, medication, or lifestyle changes.

Depending on the cause of dysglycemia, the condition can be situational and temporary. So, it can be stopped and treated before it develops into other serious chronic conditions, such as diabetes.

When it comes to lifestyle factors, exercise and diet play a massive role in blood sugar levels. Regular physical activity helps make your cells more sensitive to insulin, making them more effective at regulating glucose levels within the body.

Similarly, diet can also play a role in treating some forms of dysglycemia and preventing diabetes. Avoiding high-sugar and processed foods can help keep your blood sugar levels low.

Strengthening current strategies

A recent paper published in the National Library of Medicine, ‘A global call to action: strengthening strategies to combat dysglycemia and improve public health outcomes’, outlines how governments and healthcare organisations can improve current measures implemented to combat the rise of dysglycemia.

The paper proposed five solutions, which are designed to combat the rising prevalence of dysglycemia, the economic burden it has on healthcare costs, the inequity in healthcare access, the slow adoption of new technologies, and the gaps in public awareness/education.

The five solutions are:

  1. Implementing lifestyle interventions and early screening programs for the condition.
  2. Creating sugar taxes, subsidies, and workplace wellness initiatives.
  3. Leverage telemedicine platforms, affordable medication, and community programs.
  4. Healthcare providers should invest in glucose monitoring tools and emerging technologies.
  5. Creation of mass media campaigns to increase awareness of dysglycemia, including cultural adaptations for diverse populations.

The rise of dysglycemia is a multifaceted issue, requiring a multifaceted solution. Healthcare organisations and governments around the world will need to work together to form an approach that targets prevention, early detection, and effective lifestyle interventions.

Although there is no number on how many people in Australia are affected by dysglycemia, over 2 million Australians are living with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes. It also costs the Australian economy more than $17.6 billion every year.

Reducing the rate of dysglycemia and increasing awareness also helps combat diabetes. Many are calling diabetes, and by extension—dysglycemia—the biggest epidemic of the 21st century. Strengthening current responses and taking proactive public health measures will be the key to preventing the future growth of both conditions.