Prevention of Diabetes

According to the Centers for Disease Control, reseachers are making progress in identifying the exact genetic and environmental "triggers" that predispose some individuals to develop type 1 diabetes, but prevention, as well as a cure, remains elusive.

Preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes is possible, recent studies have shown that regular physical activity and modest weight loss can significantly reduce the risk of devloping type 2 diabetes.

You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if:

• you are overweight

• you are 45 years or older

• you have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes

• your family background is African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic American/Latino, or Pacific Islander

• you live in the Appalachain Mountain chain

• you had gestational diabetes or gave birth to a baby

• weighing more than 9 pounds

• your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, or you have been told you have high blood pressure

• your HDL cholesterol is 35 or lower, or your triglyceride level is 250 or higher

• you are fairly inactive, or you exercise fewer than three time a week

• you have a history of cardiovascular disease and polycystic ovary disease (PCOS) or other clinical condition associated with insulin resistance (e.g. acanthosis nigricans, severe obesity)

About 16 million people between the ages of 40 and 74 in United States have pre-diabetes. Most of them are likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, unless they take steps to prevent or delay diabetes. The results of the Diabetes Prevention Program tell us that millions of high-risk people can use diet, exercise, and behavior modification to avoid developing type 2 diabetes.

To help you determine your risk for developing diabetes the American Diabetes Association has developed Take the Test, Know your Score.

Symptoms of Diabetes

If you think you might have diabetes visit your physician for diagnosis. You might have SOME or NONE of the following symptoms:

• frequent urination

• excessive thirst

• unexplained weight loss

• extreme hunger

• sudden vision changes

• tingling or numbness in hands or feet

• feeling very tired much of the time

• very dry skin

• sores that are slow to heal

• more infections than usual

Criteria for Diagnosis of Diabetes

• Fasting plasma glucose >126 mg/dl*

• Random plasma glucose >200 mg/dl*

*Repeat to confirm on subsequent day
A fasting plasma glucose >100mg/dl and <126 mg/dl is the cutoff for the diagnosis of prediabetes.