July 18, 2012

Diabetes: Attempt to Prevent!

Diabetes kills. In fact, diabetes is the sixth greatest killer of Americans. There is not yet a cure for the disease, and people who have it or people who are familiar with it know the impact the disease has on their health. There is nothing you can do to positively prevent acquiring diabetes, but there are steps you can take to lessen your chance of developing it. The following list contains instructions for staying ahead of diabetes.

  • Ask your family. Diabetes is a genetic disorder. If one or more members of your family have diabetes, the chances of developing it yourself are increased. Specific races — African Americans, American Indians and Latinos — are also more prone to contracting diabetes.
  • Get to a healthy weight. Overweight people are much more susceptible to Type 2 diabetes than those at healthy weights. Pockets of fat around the middle of your body are also risk factors for diabetes.
  • Stay fit and active. Not only will regular exercise help control your weight, staying active increases your flow of blood, opening up your arteries and decreasing your chance for a number of medical conditions.
  • Maintain a wholesome diet. People suffering from diabetes have difficult making insulin. If you maintain a diet that is low in sugars and starches, you will lessen your chances of developing an insulin issue. A healthy diet will also keep the weight off.
  • Visit the doctor. If you’re afraid to visit the doctor, it’s time to get over it. Especially if a member of your family has diabetes or you have any of the other risk factors, it’s important for a doctor to record your levels and ensure your health. Catching the signs of diabetes onset can cause you to change your lifestyle and keep the disease at bay.
  • Check your blood pressure. High blood pressure is a symptom that goes along with diabetes. If you’re monitoring your blood pressure levels and you notice curious changes, you will know to visit your doctor immediately. By checking your blood pressure regularly you can help prevent developing diabetes out of the blue.