Are you at risk for diabetes?

Diabetes affects nearly 24 million people in the United States – nearly 8 percent of the population. Another 57 million people are estimated to have prediabetes, a condition that puts people at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic lifelong disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood.

There are three major types of diabetes, with Type 2 being the most common by far. Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed in childhood and early adulthood. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and puts these women at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease or stroke later in life.

Type 2 usually occurs in adulthood but can happen to obese teens and young adults. With this type, the pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal, often because the body does not respond normally to insulin. This is known as “insulin resistance.” Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to increasing obesity and lack of exercise.

Type 2 accounts for the majority of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Risk factors include the following:

• Obesity

• Family history

• Inactivity

• Being over age 45

• High triglycerides

• Low HDL (healthy cholesterol)

• High blood pressure

• Race/ethnicity (African Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and Native Americans all have high rates of diabetes)

Check out our free online health risk assessment for diabetes. Whatever your risk factors for diabetes may be, there’s a lot you can do to delay or prevent diabetes. To manage your risk of diabetes, you should:

• Keep your weight within or near normal ranges

• Get 30 minutes of exercise on most days

• Eat a healthy diet

• Manage your blood pressure

I hope to continue sharing information about diabetes with you through our blog. By posting your questions or comments below, you help me know what topics are most important to you.

Judy Hauswald, Diabetes Program Coordinator

(712) 722-8114

Judith.Hauswald@schospital.org