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Symptoms & Conditions > Adults' > Diabetes > | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Type 2 Diabetes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Can you decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes? The answer is both no and yes. Developing type 2 diabetes has a lot to do with your family history (genes), ethnic origin, and your age. Unfortunately, you can't do anything to change these risk factors. You can, however, decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes by achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight and by being physically active. Type 2 Diabetes on the Rise
No, it is not your imagination. Type 2 diabetes is both in the news and the focus of concern among
public health experts. That's because the number of people with type 2 diabetes continues to grow
rapidly. Diabetes is, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "a major
public health threat of epidemic proportions." CDC reports that the rate of diabetes from 1990 to 1998
rose 33%, from 4.9% of the U.S. adult population to 6.5%. Now, more than 16 million Americans have
diabetes and about a third (5 million) don't know they have it. About 14 million Americans, or 90% to
95% of people with diabetes, have type 2. |
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| One of the major risk factors for type 2 diabetes is excess weight. Today, more than 50% of adults in
America are overweight. Hence, is it any surprise that diabetes is on the rise in adults? And, to many
people's concern, there is evidence of a rise in both excess weight and type 2 diabetes in children.
Type 2 diabetes used to occur almost solely in adults. According to Dr. Frank Vinicor, director of
CDC's diabetes program, "despite these dramatic increases [in diabetes], we are encouraged that
maintaining healthy behavior such as controlling weight through nutrition and physical activity can
help ease the burden of diabetes and may actually prevent its onset." Understanding Type 2 Diabetes
Nearly 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight and most people with type 2 diabetes are
insulin resistant. This means that the body doesn't effectively use the insulin that the pancreas
makes. Scientists now understand that insulin resistance begins a number of years before blood sugar
even begins to rise, and before someone is even diagnosed with diabetes. Here's what happens. As
weight increases there is a greater demand for insulin. The body works hard to keep blood glucose
(blood sugar) levels normal by making more and more insulin. Over time, the continued demand for
insulin on the pancreas causes problems. The body no longer makes the extra insulin that it needs.
Blood sugar then starts to creep up. This situation frequently goes undiagnosed for several years
because high blood sugar often develops gradually and the usual symptoms of diabetes may not appear
for a while.In response to high levels of insulin in the body, several other problems can occur. Again, these can happen even before blood glucose begins to rise. Blood pressure increases, HDL ("good cholesterol") levels decrease, and triglycerides, the components in your blood that are used mainly to make fat, start to rise. People with this group of conditions are said to have insulin resistance syndrome. People with this syndrome are at greater risk of developing the serious heart, eye, and kidney disease associated with diabetes. These conditions make it important to take action if you are at risk for either diabetes or insulin resistance syndrome. Steps You Can Take to Decrease Your Risk
Achieve and maintain a healthy weight:If you are overweight, take steps to shed a few pounds. Don't start any crash diet. Take stock of your current habits and make a few healthy changes. Most people can trim their waistlines by eating smaller portions, eating less fat and eating less sugar-rich foods. Substituting foods and beverages sweetened with a no calorie sweetener may help you decrease your calorie and sugar intake. The loss of just 10 to 20 pounds is enough to lower blood sugar. And not only does weight loss often lower blood sugar, but it often lowers triglycerides and blood pressure as well. Be physically active nearly every day: Becoming more active can help decrease blood sugar whether or not you lose weight. Becoming more active can also help you burn calories and lose weight. Your goal doesn't need to be to run marathons or do aerobics. Simply work 30 minutes of activity, even in intervals of 5 to 10 minutes, into your daily life. This can be walking to the bus, housecleaning, doing the stairs at work, or gardening on the weekend. Being active helps control blood sugar. It uses up the blood sugar in your circulation and thereby lowers blood sugar. Also, activity increases the amount of muscle in the body. Muscle is more sensitive to the body's insulin and is able to use it more effectively to lower blood sugar. Not only does activity lower blood sugar, but it also helps with weight loss and can raise the HDL cholesterol level. Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
The American Diabetes Association identifies the following as risk factors that increase the odds of
developing diabetes:
Should You Be Tested for Diabetes?
According to the American Diabetes Association everyone who is 45 years and older should also be
tested for high blood sugar. If at the time of testing blood sugar is normal (less than 110 fasting),
it should be tested again every 3 years. People who are at risk for developing diabetes should
consider having their blood sugar checked more often than every 3 years and starting at a younger age.To see if you are at risk for diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association website at http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp. To learn more about how diabetes can be diagnosed by your health care provider read:
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