Preventing
Type 2 Diabetes
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP),
a major federally funded study of 3,234 people at high risk for
diabetes, showed that people can delay and possibly prevent the
disease by losing a small amount of weight (5 to 7 percent of total
body weight) through 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week
and healthier eating.
When To Be Tested For Diabetes
Anyone aged 45 years or older should consider getting tested
for diabetes, especially if you are overweight. If you are
younger than 45, but are overweight and have one or more additional
risk factors (see below), you should consider testing.
The Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
Here are some of the risk factors that could contribute to the
development of type 2 diabetes:
> Being
overweight or obese
> A parent,
brother, or sister with diabetes
> African
American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander,
or Hispanic
American/Latino heritage
> Prior
history of gestational diabetes or birth of at least one baby
weighing
more than 9 pounds
> High
blood pressure measuring 140/90 or higher
> Abnormal cholesterol with HDL ("good")
cholesterol is 35 or lower, or triglyceride level is 250 or
higher
> Physical inactivity—exercising
fewer than three times a week
Body Weight Can Affect Likelihood of Diabetes Development
Being overweight or obese is a leading risk factor for type 2
diabetes. Being overweight can keep your body from making and
using insulin properly, and can also cause high blood pressure.
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a major federally funded
study of 3,234 people at high risk for diabetes, showed that
moderate diet and exercise of about 30 minutes or more, 5 or
more days per week, or of 150 or more minutes per week, resulting
in a 5% to 7% weight loss can delay and possibly prevent type
2 diabetes.
What is Pre-diabetes?
People with blood glucose levels that are higher than normal
but not yet in the diabetic range have "pre-diabetes." Doctors
sometimes call this condition impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), depending on the test
used to diagnose it. Insulin resistance and pre-diabetes usually
have no symptoms. You may have one or both conditions for several
years without noticing anything.
If you have pre-diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing
type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that most people with pre-diabetes
go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, unless they
lose weight through modest changes in diet and physical activity.
People with pre-diabetes also have a higher risk of heart disease.
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