Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that results in your body not being able to use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. In the early stages, the pancreas makes extra insulin to compensate, but as the condition progresses, it is unable to make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels. If type 2 diabetes goes unmanaged, high blood sugar levels begin to damage the body and can cause other serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
According to the CDC, more than 30 million Americans have diabetes (about 1 in 10), and around 90% to 95% of them have type 2 diabetes. While type 2 diabetes used to develop mainly in adults over the age 45, more and more children, teens, and young adults are now developing it. The good news is that type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease, so taking action now can help to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
Step 1: Take the Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test. According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 7.2 million people with diabetes are undiagnosed and 1 in 3 American adults are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Taking the risk test will help you better understand your risk factor and what kind of lifestyle changes you need to think about making.
Step 2: Focus On Balanced Nutrition. It is important to avoid severely restrictive, fad diets and instead focus on proper balanced nutrition. Limit red meats, avoid processed meat all together, and choose nuts, beans, legumes, and lean meats like poultry and fish as your protein sources. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, and choose whole grains and whole grain products over highly processed carbohydrates. Most importantly, avoid processed foods and surgery drinks as much as possible!
Step 3: Engage in Regular Physical Activity. Research shows that exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight, which is very important in preventing type 2 diabetes. This is because excess body fat, particularly if stored around the abdomen, can increase the body’s resistance to insulin. Exercise also helps to lower blood sugar levels and it boosts sensitivity to insulin, which helps keep your blood sugar within a normal range. For the best results, aim to engage in both aerobic exercise and resistance training.
Step 4: Quit Smoking (Or Never Start!) According to the CDC, smokers are 30–40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers. The more cigarettes you smoke, the higher your risk for type 2 diabetes. Research also shows that smoking after being diagnosed not only makes diabetes harder control, but it puts you at risk for a wide range of additional health issues.
Step 5: Manage Your Stress Levels. High stress levels that go unmanaged can have numerous negative affects on your health, such as poor sleep quality, weight gain, high blood pressure, etc. Over time, these conditions put you at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. To help manage your stress levels remember to choose positive and healthy methods, such as exercise, mediation, yoga, disconnecting from technology, or spending time in nature.
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