Hey Peeps,
Last week we talked about Diabetes 2, as a sufferer, I discussed with you the uncontrollable risks. Today lets talk about the controllable risks
Factors that you can control are related to your lifestyle--the choices you make each day about what to eat and whether or not to exercise. These are areas of your life where you can take control to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes, and enhance your overall health.
Controllable Risk Factors
Your weight. More than 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. You can decrease your risk with each pound you lose, and dropping just 10% of your body weight can have major benefits. Follow the SparkDiet to reach your weight loss goal.
Your fat distribution. Carrying excess weight around your abdomen and waistline (known as the "apple" shape), greatly increases your risk of diabetes. Calculate your waist-to-hip ratio to find out how to improve it.
Your activity level. Physically inactive people are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Read Exercising with Diabetes and work out at least three times per week.
Your medications. Several medications, including antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, can dramatically increase your diabetes risk. Talk to your doctor about alternative medications that don't have this effect.
Your diet. A diet high in diabetes-promoting foods (calories, sugar, saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat) and low in healthy foods (healthy fats, fiber, whole grains, fruits and veggies), can contribute to your diabetes risk. Use the Nutrition Resource Center as a guide to healthy eating.
Your drinking habits. Heavy alcohol use damages the pancreas and can result in type 2 diabetes. But moderate drinking (less than one drink daily for women or two drinks for men) has a protective effect against diabetes.
Your smoking habits. Smokers are 50% to 90% more likely to develop diabetes than nonsmokers. Quit smoking to reduce your risk of serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes.
When you have existing health conditions, your risk of developing diabetes and complications is greater. Add high risk factors into the picture (like family history, age, and race) and your risk is compounded even more. The good thing is that you can work on the risk factors that you can change. When you improve your life by achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and regularly engaging in physical activity, you can reduce you risk of type 2 diabetes by about 58 percent.
Showing posts with label Diabetes type 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diabetes type 2. Show all posts
29 July 2010
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
Hey peeps,
Following my blog last week the education continues .
Preventing diabetes isn't as simple as eating less sugar. The fact is, a combination of factors contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. There are two main categories of risks--those that you can't change, and those that you can.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors
These variables are out of your control. Although you can't do anything to change them, it's important to know whether you fall into any of these higher-risk categories.
• Your age. Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases as you age. Diabetes most often affects people over age 40, and people over 65 are at even higher risk.
• Your family history. There is some evidence that diabetes runs in families. If your parent or sibling has diabetes, for example, your risk of developing diabetes increases.
• Your race. Certain ethnicities--African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islander Americans--are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
• Your health history. Women who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy are 50% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Giving birth to a baby over nine pounds also increases a woman's risk. Other risk factors include illnesses and conditions such as pancreatitis, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and vascular disease (such as stroke).
My diabetes was more to do with my familty history and my race, but hey , you still live and make the most of your life.
Until da next Tyme !
Following my blog last week the education continues .
Preventing diabetes isn't as simple as eating less sugar. The fact is, a combination of factors contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. There are two main categories of risks--those that you can't change, and those that you can.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors
These variables are out of your control. Although you can't do anything to change them, it's important to know whether you fall into any of these higher-risk categories.
• Your age. Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases as you age. Diabetes most often affects people over age 40, and people over 65 are at even higher risk.
• Your family history. There is some evidence that diabetes runs in families. If your parent or sibling has diabetes, for example, your risk of developing diabetes increases.
• Your race. Certain ethnicities--African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islander Americans--are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
• Your health history. Women who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy are 50% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Giving birth to a baby over nine pounds also increases a woman's risk. Other risk factors include illnesses and conditions such as pancreatitis, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and vascular disease (such as stroke).
My diabetes was more to do with my familty history and my race, but hey , you still live and make the most of your life.
Until da next Tyme !
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