Get to Know the Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes so You Can Take Early Preventive Action

You've  probably never given much thought to the topic of diabetes.  After all you're in your mid-40's, enjoy relatively good health, try to eat right, and you walk every day.  But then you went to a Family Reunion and heard that Aunt Mary has diabetes, and Uncle John battled with diabetes up to his death at 72 years of age. You suddenly start thinking that perhaps it's time to get yourself tested!

So far it seems that you've been doing everything right by your lifestyle.  However, you have good reason for concern because experts recommend that adults with even one of the following risk factors should get tested:

• Family history of type 2 diabetes
• Being overweight
• Gestational diabetes, or having a baby that weighed 9 pounds or more at birth
• Low HDL (good cholesterol: under 50 for women, below 40 for men); high total cholesterol (above 200), or triglycerides above 150
• High blood pressure (over 130/85)
• Over 45 years old
• Inactive lifestyle
• African-American, Latino, Asian, Native American, or Pacific Island ethnicity.

Prevention Magazine recommends that all adults, plus overwieght children, should have blood sugar tests if they have even one of these risks.

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented, but if there is any indication of pre-diabetes, the diagnosis must be arrived at in time so that you can implement preventive measures immediately.