Are You at Risk for Diabetes?

Did you know there are 29 million people in the United States who are affected by diabetes?

This year American Diabetes Alert Day falls on March 24th. The goal for this day is to stress the prevalence of diabetes in this country and to raise awareness of your risk.

There are two types of risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes, controllable and uncontrollable. Controllable risk factors are those that you can modify through lifestyle changes, while uncontrollable risk factors are unmodifiable.

More than 88 million American adults have pre-diabetes, and of those 80 percent are unaware that they have it. Prediabetes is when blood glucose is elevated, but not to the degree warranting a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. Knowing which risk factors you can control at this time is important, so you can make the necessary lifestyle changes to help reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes

Being aware of the risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes is crucial so that you can have an idea of your level of risk. Here are the major risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes:

Age: After you reach 50 years old, your risk factor increases. You can’t control your age, but you can control lifestyle choices.

Gender: Men are more likely to have undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes than women.

Family History: If someone in your family has a history of Type 2 Diabetes, you are at a higher risk of developing it.

High Blood Pressure: Uncontrolled high blood pressure raises your risk for diabetes while also putting you at risk for other health issues such as a heart attack or stroke.

Inactivity: Living a sedentary lifestyle ups your risk of developing diabetes. Physical activity, when done regularly, can reduce your risk.

BMI: A higher BMI increases your risk for diabetes.

If you identify with some of these risk factors, I strongly encourage you to get screened by your doctor.

Reduce Your Risk

Now that you know your level of risk, here are some tips you can try to reduce your probability of developing diabetes:

Improve your nutrition: A well-rounded diet is essential to helping reduce your risk. Try eating more whole foods (whole grains, fruits, vegetables) and less processed foods.

Increase your physical activity: Consistent exercise makes a big difference, start small by just going for a walk and push yourself to do more and more as your endurance kicks up.

Don’t completely restrict: You don’t have to remove any food you enjoy from your diet, everything in moderation.

Healthy Living with Diabetes

If you need help with the management of your diabetes or pre-diabetes, check out my Healthy Living with Diabetes Program™. This program includes education on the areas that impact your blood glucose such as: Nutrition, Movement, Habits and Behaviors, Stress Management, and Sleep Hygiene.

You can get started by downloading my Free eBook: 5 Keys to Manage Diabetes Without Dieting.

Your Turn to Take Action: What are you going to do to reduce your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes? Let me know in the comments below.