Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

There are several risk factors for type 2 diabetes, the most common type. Overweight or having a parent, brother, or sister who has type 2 diabetes may increase your chances of developing this disease. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be increased by several factors, including gestational diabetes, which develops while pregnant.

A person with type 2 diabetes can have serious health complications, including heart disease, strokes, eye problems, and foot issues. Prediabetes can also cause problems, but type 2 diabetes is preventable or even deferred. It is more likely that you will develop health problems if you have diabetes for an extended period of time, so delaying diabetes by even a few years will be beneficial to your health. When you follow a reduced-calorie eating plan and exercise most days of the week, you can help delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.

Would you be able to tell me how I can reduce my risk of developing type 2 diabetes?

You can lower your risk by changing the following:

• Lose weight and keep it off. The loss of five to seven percent of your starting weight can reduce your risk of diabetes or delay its onset. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, your goal would be to lose 10 to 14 pounds.
• Move more. Make sure you are physically active five days a week for 30 minutes. If you haven’t been active, consult with your health care professional to determine the best activities to engage in. Start slowly and gradually increase your levels of physical activity.
• Eat healthy foods most of the time. If you want to lose weight, reduce your daily calorie intake by eating smaller portions. opt for lower fat foods as well as drinking water instead of sugary drinks.

You can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by making other changes as recommended by your health care professional. If I have prediabetes, what should I do?

Prediabetes is characterized by high blood glucose levels, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Diabetes type 2 is more likely to develop if you have prediabetes. Diabetes type 2 and prediabetes are associated with many of the same risk factors. Prediabetes can also be called impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose.

You can reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes by losing weight, becoming more active, and eating a reduced-calorie diet if you have prediabetes.