Type 2 Diabetes - Are You in Danger of Developing Diabetes?
Over 25 million people in the United States have Type 2 diabetes.
But did you know seven million of these people don't know they have the condition? This form of diabetes can be managed and sometimes even reversed, but it's best to catch it early before dangerous complications develop.
If you're wondering if you may have Type 2 diabetes or might develop it in the future, answer these questions to learn more about the risk factors for this form of diabetes and what you can do to prevent this disease...
1.
Are you overweight? Being overweight is the biggest risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes.
Your body stores the excess weight as fat in your cells.
These fat cells can make you resistant to insulin.
Fat also builds up in the pancreas and clogs it, which makes it harder for your pancreas to produce insulin.
2.
Do you smoke? Smoking increases your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by 30 to 40%.
And the more you smoke, the higher your risk of diabetes is.
3.
Are you physically active five days a week? Having a sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
It's recommended adults take part in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on five days of the week, plus strength training one to two days a week.
When you exercise, your body moves glucose from your blood to your cells, and you also become more sensitive to insulin.
4.
Do you have high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, or high triglycerides? Having any of these health markers also puts you at risk.
Eating a healthy diet and exercising will help get them back in the normal range.
5.
Are you prediabetic? Everyone who goes on to develop full-blown Type 2 diabetes goes through prediabetes first, although they may not know it.
If you've been diagnosed as prediabetic, it's a good time to make lifestyle changes to avoid progressing onto full-blown diabetes.
Having impaired glucose tolerance is also a sign you may be headed towards diabetes.
These are all risk factors that are modifiable - you can make lifestyle changes to lower your risk.
But there are also some risk factors that cannot be modified...
1.
Does someone in your immediate family have Type 2 diabetes? Part of diabetes is genetic, so if you have a family history of it, you're more at risk.
2.
Are you over 45 years old? The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes increases with age.
After age 45, the risk is higher - and then after age 65 the risk goes up again.
3.
Are you Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American, or American Indian? People of these races are also more likely to get Type 2 diabetes, although scientist aren't sure why.
4.
Have you had Gestational diabetes (diabetes of pregnancy), or given birth to a baby who weighed nine pounds or more? Gestational diabetes is a condition some women develop during pregnancy.
It happens to women who weren't diabetic before pregnancy and who aren't diabetic after pregnancy.
But it does mean you have a higher chance of going on to develop Type 2 diabetes in the future.
Giving birth to a baby over nine pounds also increases your risk.
But did you know seven million of these people don't know they have the condition? This form of diabetes can be managed and sometimes even reversed, but it's best to catch it early before dangerous complications develop.
If you're wondering if you may have Type 2 diabetes or might develop it in the future, answer these questions to learn more about the risk factors for this form of diabetes and what you can do to prevent this disease...
1.
Are you overweight? Being overweight is the biggest risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes.
Your body stores the excess weight as fat in your cells.
These fat cells can make you resistant to insulin.
Fat also builds up in the pancreas and clogs it, which makes it harder for your pancreas to produce insulin.
2.
Do you smoke? Smoking increases your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by 30 to 40%.
And the more you smoke, the higher your risk of diabetes is.
3.
Are you physically active five days a week? Having a sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
It's recommended adults take part in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on five days of the week, plus strength training one to two days a week.
When you exercise, your body moves glucose from your blood to your cells, and you also become more sensitive to insulin.
4.
Do you have high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, or high triglycerides? Having any of these health markers also puts you at risk.
Eating a healthy diet and exercising will help get them back in the normal range.
5.
Are you prediabetic? Everyone who goes on to develop full-blown Type 2 diabetes goes through prediabetes first, although they may not know it.
If you've been diagnosed as prediabetic, it's a good time to make lifestyle changes to avoid progressing onto full-blown diabetes.
Having impaired glucose tolerance is also a sign you may be headed towards diabetes.
These are all risk factors that are modifiable - you can make lifestyle changes to lower your risk.
But there are also some risk factors that cannot be modified...
1.
Does someone in your immediate family have Type 2 diabetes? Part of diabetes is genetic, so if you have a family history of it, you're more at risk.
2.
Are you over 45 years old? The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes increases with age.
After age 45, the risk is higher - and then after age 65 the risk goes up again.
3.
Are you Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American, or American Indian? People of these races are also more likely to get Type 2 diabetes, although scientist aren't sure why.
4.
Have you had Gestational diabetes (diabetes of pregnancy), or given birth to a baby who weighed nine pounds or more? Gestational diabetes is a condition some women develop during pregnancy.
It happens to women who weren't diabetic before pregnancy and who aren't diabetic after pregnancy.
But it does mean you have a higher chance of going on to develop Type 2 diabetes in the future.
Giving birth to a baby over nine pounds also increases your risk.
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