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Reducing the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
~ by Carol Vartuli & Richard Sgaglio
November is Diabetes Awareness month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes and 90-95% of them are living with type 2 diabetes which often occurs as we age and can be brought on by our lifestyle rather than just genetics. In fact, according to Harvard University, nine out of 10 cases of Type 2 diabetes are preventable.
Although most people are aware that type 2 diabetes is a serious disease, many don’t know about prediabetes. This November, the medical community is focused on raising awareness about it. According to the CDC, 88 million Americans (one of every three adults) are living with prediabetes, and only a tiny fraction of them know it.
People with prediabetes have higher than normal blood sugar levels, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
The CDC explains the cause of prediabetes this way: “Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into cells for use as energy. If you have prediabetes, the cells in your body don’t respond normally to insulin. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. Eventually your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes—and type 2 diabetes down the road.”
Prediabetes is reversible, and intervention can prevent its progression into type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, caused by the body’s inability to use insulin properly, is the most prevalent type of diabetes; it accounts for 95 percent of cases.
As we age, the chance of developing type 2 diabetes increases. It occurs mostly in people over age 45-- although its prevalence is on the rise in young adults, teens, and children.
Although type 2 diabetes can sometimes be managed with a healthy diet and exercise, it is a progressive disease. Over time, your pancreas may not produce enough insulin to keep your blood sugar at normal levels, requiring daily medication or insulin.
Diabetes is a serious disease. High blood glucose damages blood vessels and nerves that control your heart, making diabetic adults nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease or stroke than people without the disease. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause kidney failure, blindness, and amputation.
Fortunately, type 2 diabetes usually starts with warning signs. According to The Mayo Clinic, there are symptoms you should be aware of.
Some of the risk factors for prediabetes include:
Although prediabetes has no clear symptoms, you can take a simple, 60-second risk assessment from the National Diabetes Association. If you are in a moderate-to high-risk category, discuss it with your physician, who can monitor your blood glucose levels.
YES. Changes in lifestyle and nutrition can help you lower your risk for, or even reverse prediabetes,. The CDC offers a free downloadable guide, called On Your Way to Preventing Type 2 Diabetes.
By being aware of prediabetes, or reversing it now, you can meaningfully lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Learn more about the benefits of walking for older adults and nutrition for healthy aging.
For online resources, please visit the following websites:
https://diabetesfoundationinc.org/online-resources/
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/tools-resources.html
The information in the above article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.