If you’ve never had your blood sugar checked, it’s probably time to do it. You could have prediabetes, a silent condition that could be causing damage throughout your body. Prediabetes means you’re on your way to developing diabetes, and signals a higher risk of heart disease. But by making some changes, you can protect yourself from these grim consequences.

Prediabetes rarely has symptoms. In fact, even people who have diabetes may not notice signs of the disease at first. That’s why having your blood sugar level checked is essential. Ask your doctor about having a fasting blood sugar test, and make sure you know what the numbers mean.