Are You At Risk For Type II Diabetes?

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 25.8 million Americans have diabetes, and 7 million of those cases are undiagnosed. Magnifying the problem is the fact that many of those people who are undiagnosed don’t realize that they’re in danger.

Studies show that 79 million Americans have prediabetes and are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. That's because all but the most serious cases of diabetes may manifest with symptoms that seem harmless, like thirst and fatigue. The ADA encourages you to be proactive and take steps to reduce your risk of getting this potentially debilitating disease. The first step is educating yourself about the risk factors.

People with type 2 diabetes have too much glucose in their blood and not enough insulin to move it into the cells to be used as energy. Large concentrations of blood glucose can cause irreparable damage to the kidneys, eyes, and nervous system. You should be aware of the following risk factors:

• Obesity or being overweight
• High blood pressure (above 130/80)
• Insulin resistance
• Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose
• Inactivity or a sedentary lifestyle
• Family history of diabetes
• History of gestational diabetes
• Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

The most effective ways to avoid this dangerous disease are to maintain a healthy weight, participate in daily exercise, and eat a diet low in saturated fats and rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. If you’re following a healthy lifestyle,  you’re off to a good start!