Carol kee learned 12 years ago that she's pre-diabetic -- a condition in which her blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as full-blown diabetes.  She's working hard to make sure she'll never receive that diagnosis. 

"The first thing, i stopped smoking. then, i stopped drinking coffee. Then, i stopped alcohol." 

Carol says her lifestyle changes were extensive, but the effort is nothing compared with facing the potential complications that go along with diabetes. 

Diabetes, we know today, is the leading cause of blindness in the western world. It's the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the western world. It's the leading cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputations. 

Dr. Martin Abrahamson recommends adults be screened by age 45 -- and earlier if at higher risk.  This includes people who are obese, people who have a family history of type 2 diabetes, individuals who have high blood pressure, individuals who have abnormal cholesterol levels.  While Carol's diagnosis is frightening, she says it's been a lifesaving wake up call.