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Are You at Risk for Diabetes?

Date: 11/01/23

Diabetes and prediabetes are serious health conditions. Let’s take a look at your risks and what to do if you think you might have one of these conditions.

About Prediabetes: More than 1 out of 3 American adults have prediabetes, which means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Prediabetes is a warning that you are at an increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. Symptoms aren’t always obvious, and 90% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have it. The good news is that a simple blood sugar test can tell you. Get the test if you have any of these risk factors:

  • Being overweight
  • Being 45 years or older
  • Having a parent, brother, or sister with Type 2 diabetes
  • Being physically active less than three times a week
  • Having gestational diabetes during pregnancy
  • Giving birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds
  • Having polycystic ovary syndrome
  • African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and some Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are at particularly high risk for Type 2 diabetes

If you have any of these risk factors, call your doctor to schedule a prediabetes screening.

About Diabetes: Diabetes affects the way your body turns food into energy. When you eat, your body breaks down the food into sugar and sends it into your blood. That signals your pancreas to release insulin, which lets the sugar into your cells so they can use it for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or has trouble using it. That means too much sugar stays in your blood, and that can cause problems like heart disease, blindness, kidney disease and more. While there is no cure for diabetes, losing weight, healthy eating and exercise can help. It’s also important to take any medicine your doctor prescribes and keep all your doctor’s appointments.

Preventing Diabetes: Here are some things you can do to prevent diabetes, as well as ways you can take care of yourself if you have it.

  1. Know the signs. Some signs of diabetes are being unusually thirsty, weight gain or loss, changes in vision, or having to urinate often. If you think you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor for a checkup.
  2. Eat healthy. Healthy, high-protein foods like salmon, sardines, pumpkin seeds, peanuts and almonds can help your blood sugar, while things like bread, sweet cereals and pasta can make your blood sugar worse.
  3. Drink smart. If you have a lot of sweet, caffeinated drinks during the day, try switching just one of them for water. Then try switching two. If you put cream or whole milk in your coffee and cereal, start mixing it with 1% milk so you can slowly switch to 1% and then skim. And whole fruits are always better than fruit juice.
  4. Move. Exercise helps keep your blood glucose and blood pressure healthy — all good for weight loss and lowering your diabetes risk. Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise plan.
  5. Watch your weight. If you’re overweight, you can reduce your risk for diabetes by losing just 5% of your body weight. So make a plan with your doctor to help lower your diabetes risk.

Make an appointment today to talk with your doctor about your risk for diabetes.