Recognizing Early Warning Signs –Metabolic Syndrome and Prediabetes
Dear Patients,
Metabolic syndrome and prediabetes are among the most common early warning signs of chronic diseases. They often remain undetected for a long time, even though the risk for serious complications has already significantly increased at this stage.
What does “metabolic syndrome” mean?
What does “metabolic syndrome” mean?
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of several risk factors that significantly increase the likelihood of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
These include:
- Increased waist circumference
- High blood pressure
- Elevated blood sugar levels
- Low HDL cholesterol
- Elevated triglycerides
Just three of these five characteristics are sufficient for a diagnosis.
Prediabetes – the underestimated precursor
Prediabetes is an early warning signal:
Blood sugar levels are already above normal but not yet in the diabetes range.
About one-third of people with prediabetes will develop full-blown type 2 diabetes within a few years.
Even at this stage, the risk of heart attack, stroke and other complications rises significantly.
Early detection and targeted intervention are therefore crucial.
Visceral fat – the hidden risk
Visceral fat, the fat around internal organs, is particularly metabolically active.
It promotes silent inflammation, high blood pressure, diabetes and even certain types of cancer.
Even individuals with normal weight can have a high percentage of visceral fat.
This phenomenon is known as „TOFI“ (thin outside, fat inside).
Precise diagnostics – targeted prevention
Various examination methods are available to assess individual risk:
Glucose tolerance test (OGTT): shows how the body reacts to a sugar load
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM): real-time monitoring of blood sugar fluctuations
uVIDA Sport Test (Zone-2 Test): measures mitochondrial performance and maximum fat-burning capacity
Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA): analysis of body fat, muscle mass, and water content, including visceral fat percentage
These methods enable differentiated diagnostics and monitoring of progress as part of lifestyle changes or medical therapies.
Treatment: Lifestyle as medicine
The good news is that metabolic syndrome and early-stage prediabetes can be effectively influenced.
Studies show that:
A weight reduction of 5–10% already improves blood pressure, blood sugar, and fat levels.
A healthy diet rich in vegetables, healthy fats (e.g., olive oil), and low in sugar has anti-inflammatory effects.
Regular exercise, particularly Zone-2 training (moderate endurance training at around 60-70% VO₂max), supports fat burning, improves insulin sensitivity, and strengthens mitochondrial function.
Metabolic syndrome and prediabetes are serious early warning signs, but they also offer a great opportunity for prevention. By recognizing them early, you can take targeted action to prevent future health issues.
Therefore, have your metabolism analyzed before problems arise.
Dr. med. Günther Bauer
We look forward to meeting you in person
With targeted diagnostics and personalized recommendations, we support you in stabilizing your metabolism early and reducing the risk of diabetes and related complications in the long run.
We would be happy to take the time for a detailed conversation to understand your health goals and find the best path forward together.
