Prevention of Diabetes

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The Prevention Of Diabetes

Have you ever wondered if the prevention of diabetes is possible? The good news about Type 2 diabetes is that it is often preventable. And – although there is no cure for Type 2 diabetes – managing the condition follows the same guidelines as prevention of the condition:

• Eating healthy

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Including exercise and physical activity in your daily routine

Researchers are still baffled why some people develop Type 2 diabetes and others do not. While some risk factors can help manage the prevention of diabetes, there are some that cannot. For example, age, family history and race are risk factors we cannot control. However, preventive measures can often be taken to delay the onset of the illness, or reduce and delay the many complications that can arise once a diagnosis has been made. How do you know if you are a high-risk candidate for Type 2 diabetes? Take a look at the following risk factors:

• Weight. Are you significantly overweight? An estimated 80 percent of those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are obese. Managing your weight can aid in the prevention of diabetes. How do you know if you are obese?

Is this you??

• Exercise/Physical Activity. Do you maintain a regular exercise routine? Studies show that regular physical activity/exercise lowers blood sugar, moving sugar from your blood stream into your cells. Exercise also helps you control your weight, thus it can also be beneficial in the prevention of diabetes.

Exercise can be fun and easy!

• Family History. Is there a history of Type 2 diabetes in your family? A parent or sibling with the disease greatly increases your chances of developing diabetes. Although there is little you can do to change your genetics, you can help reduce the probability of the occurrence or delay the onset by maintaining an adequate exercise program and a healthy weight.

• Race. Are you a member of one of the high-risk race groups? Researchers are uncertain why, but people of particular races – black, Hispanic, American Indian, Asian American – are at greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Like family history, there is little you can do to change your race.

• Age. Are you older today than you were yesterday? Of course you are, but in all seriousness, as we age, our risk of getting Type 2 diabetes increases. In fact, the onset of the disease is most common in middle age and later life, particularly after age 45. However, the disease is becoming more frequent among adolescents and young adults due to the increasing problem of obesity in these groups.

• Prediabetes. Do you have a higher than normal blood sugar level? The level is high, but not high enough to be called Type 2 diabetes. However, left untreated, this condition can develop into Type 2 diabetes .

• Gestational Diabetes. Did you develop gestational diabetes while you were pregnant? If so, you may be at risk for developing Type 2. Your risk also increases if you gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds.

How did you do? How many risk factors do you have? Some of the risk factors you can’t control – you just have to be aware you have them and work harder on those risk factors you can control. This web site is built around the hope that you will educate yourself about Type 2 diabetes and then implement changes in the areas that you can control. For somebody that is a high risk candidate, the prevention of diabetes is something that you can control.

Realizing you are a high-risk candidate for Type 2 diabetes and accepting your situation is the first step to reducing your risk. I’m sure that you’ve heard the phrase, “Knowledge is king,” or my favorite, “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” Well, you are now in the know. The time to begin to reduce the risk is now – before it is too late. Read on and let us help you work towards eliminating this disease from your life.

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