Risk factors for diabetes type 2

Oct 07, 2014 Ruchira Dhoke Did You Know?, Lifestyle & Health 0

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If type 2 diabetes was an infectious disease, we would have been in the midst of an epidemic. The disease, once known to be adult-onset diabetes, is striking an ever-growing number of young adults and children which is alarming.

It’s time to tweak our brain and assess our lifestyle to decrease the risk.

An early detection to prevention or delay type 2 diabetes one can stay at a healthy weight, eat well and be active. With the following steps you can stay healthier longer and lower the risk of acquiring diabetes type 2.

RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES TYPE 2

Do you have a family member suffering with diabetes?

If your answer is yes then a family history of diabetes could mean you are genetically vulnerable, putting you at a higher risk.

Are you Overweight?

Being overweight raises your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. It can cause other problems, too, like high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, and high blood glucose (sugar). Losing weight can help you prevent and manage these problems. Even losing 10-15 pounds can make a big difference.

Weight loss can be hard because it means. Losing weight also takes time and can be hard because it means making changes in the way you eat and in your physical activity — and that can be frustrating.

Get Started

1. Cut back on calories and fat.
2. Be physically active most days of the week.
3. Eat breakfast every day.
4. Watch your weight, what you eat and drink, and what form of physical activity you do.
5. It’s much easier to lose weight when you change the way you eat and also increase your activity.

 

Are you eating Healthy?

Eating well to maintain a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do to lower your risk for diabetes type 2and heart disease.

Build a Healthier Plate

1. Choose more fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains while shopping.
2. Buy leaner meats (such as chicken, turkey and lean cuts of pork or beef such as sirloin or chuck roast) and lower fat dairy products (like low-fat or skim milk and yogurt).
3. Buy whole grain breads and cereals.
4. Buy less soda, sweets and chips or other snack foods.
5. Eat meals with a salad or a broth or tomato- based soup with lots of vegetables. This helps you by filling you up before you get to the higher fat and calorie courses.
6. In restaurants, ask if meats can be grilled rather than fried, and request sauces and dressings on the side. Save lots of calories, by skipping dessert.

Do you exercise regularly?

Physical activity in the form of exercise:

1. Helps keep your blood glucose, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides on target
2. Lowers your risk for pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke
3. Relieves stress
4. Strengthens your heart, muscles and bones
5. Improves your blood circulation and tones your muscles
6. Keeps your body and your joints flexible

A complete physical activity routine includes four kinds of activity:

1. Activity—walking, using the stairs, moving around—throughout the day
2. Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, or dancing
3. Strength training, like lifting light weights
4. Flexibility exercises, such as stretching

Are you having Prediabetes?

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have “prediabetes” — blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

Doctors sometimes refer to prediabetes as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG), depending on what test was used when it was detected. This condition puts you at a higher risk for developing diabetes type 2 and cardiovascular disease. There are no clear symptoms of prediabetes. A prediabetic should show following results on testing:

1. An A1C of 5.7% – 6.4%
2. Fasting blood glucose of 100 – 125 mg/dl
3. An OGTT 2 hour blood glucose of 140 mg/dl – 199 mg/dl

Let’s summarize!!

1. High Blood Glucose: Managing your blood glucose (sugar) can help you prevent and manage type 2 diabetes.
2. High Blood pressure: High blood pressure raises your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other problems. Managing blood pressure can help prevent these problems.
3. Cholesterol: Unhealthy cholesterol levels can raise your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
4. Genetics: There are some things that affect your risk that you can’t change. Being aware of them can help you take smart steps to lower your risk.
5. Gestational Diabetes: If you’ve had gestational diabetes, you’re at higher risk of it in future pregnancies and of type 2 diabetes later in life.
6. Smoking: Smoking causes a lot of problems in your body and can raise your risk of heart attack or stroke.
7. Diabetes and Cancer: Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers share many risk factors. Lower your risk for both.

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• diabetes type 2, health, risk factors for diabetes

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