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Sunday, December 4, 2011

Type 2 Diabetes - Can Diabetes Be Prevented?

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Photo: diabeticlive.com

It might seem like being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes is a foregone conclusion as you get older, especially if you have a family history of the disease. However, making lifestyle changes while you are still healthy can definitely prevent developing Type 2 diabetes in the long run.
The Diabetes Prevention Program was a major, federally funded study that looked at over 3000 people who were at high risk of developing diabetes. The study proved people can delay or even prevent the disease by just losing about 5 to 7% of their total body weight. They can do this by getting about 30 minutes of physical activity five days per week, and eating healthier.
It's very important to get yearly physicals so that you can keep tabs on your blood sugar level during routine blood work. At a minimum, anyone who is over 45 years old should be tested for Type 2 diabetes. If you're younger than 45, but overweight or have any other risk factors, you should get tested earlier. The earlier you know your blood sugar is starting to inch up, the more control you will have over preventing the disease.
There are several different risk factors for developing diabetes. The first, and most well-known, is being overweight. Adding extra weight onto your body definitely leads you down the path to getting diabetes. You are also at a higher risk if your parents or siblings have diabetes. Being African-American, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, Hispanic or American Indian, also puts you at a greater risk of developing diabetes.
If you have any prior history of having gestational diabetes during pregnancy, this also puts you at a higher risk for developing diabetes later on. Most women who develop gestational diabetes find the condition goes away after the baby's birth, but have a 40 to 60% chance of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Having a blood pressure that is greater than 140/90 is also an additional risk factor.
If you have abnormal cholesterol levels, or high triglycerides, this can also point to diabetes in your future. In addition, being physically inactive, which means exercising less than three times per week, is another big risk factor for developing the disease.
Many people develop prediabetes (formerly known as impaired glucose tolerance), which is when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic range. This is the time to reverse things before they head down a very dangerous road. By changing your eating plan and starting to exercise on a regular basis, you can prevent full-blown Type 2 diabetes from being a part of your life. However, if you simply ignore it and keep going on with your life as is, you are destined to a future with diabetic complications.
To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2011 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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