I sometimes wonder if it different for prediabetics about how people handle it mentally. It's a shock in both cases to be sure. Prediabetics first priority is to not develop diabetes. I know of many that have held that diagnosis off for many years. I take hope from this but know those people have worked very hard to achieve it.
A lot of you diabetics on this forum equally work hard but the goalposts are slightly different. My observations tell me that diabetics are trying hard to get their levels at a consistently acceptable level, in some cases hoping to reduce meds in the process. We prediabetics are simply trying to lessen our chances of developing diabetes. I think if you ask any determined prediabetic on this forum, at least 90% will say they almost treat it as if they have diabetes. It's the best way in my opinion.
Sure, I could eat bread, potatoes, rice etc every other day if I want, in fact every day, but I don't want diabetes. We have to accept we are potential diabetics and it could happen sooner rather than later, whilst diabetics know they have it, learn to live with it and accomodate themselves mentally in how they personally handle it.
If I get a tad worried at a 7.8 level because it's the highest I have recorded after eating a food, I don't really want it playing down by a diabetic. I want them to remember or at least accept that the threat of something can feel just as bad as the actual happening of it.