ARE YOU AT RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES? ARE YOU AT RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES?
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Español Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? Taking Steps to Lower Your Risk of Getting Diabetes On this page: What is type 2 diabetes? Can type 2 diabetes be delayed or prevented? Other Types of Diabetes What are the signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes? Should I be tested for diabetes and prediabetes? What does having prediabetes mean? What factors increase my risk for type 2 diabetes? Does sleep matter? How can I reduce my risk for type 2 diabetes? Making Changes to Lower My Risk Eating, Diet, and Nutrition Measure Your Waist Body Mass Index (BMI) Hope through Research For More Information Acknowledgments

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes, is the most common type of diabetes. About 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. People can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. However, this type of diabetes develops most often in middle-aged and older people. People who are overweight and inactive are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

In type 2 and other types of diabetes, you have too much glucose, also called sugar, in your blood. People with diabetes have problems converting food to energy. After a meal, food is broken down into glucose, which is carried by your blood to cells throughout your body. With the help of the hormone insulin, cells absorb glucose from your blood and use it for energy. Insulin is made in the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach.

Insulin is made in the pancreas.

Type 2 diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition linked to excess weight in which your body’s cells do not use insulin properly. As a result, your body needs more insulin to help glucose enter cells. At first, your pancreas keeps up with the added demand by producing more insulin. But in time, your pancreas loses its ability to produce enough insulin, and blood glucose levels rise.

Over time, high blood glucose damages nerves and blood vessels, leading to problems such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, dental disease, and amputations. Other problems of diabetes may include increased risk of getting other diseases, loss of mobility with aging, depression, and pregnancy problems.

Treatment includes taking diabetes medicines, making wise food choices, being physically active on a regular basis, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, and for some, taking aspirin daily.

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Can type 2 diabetes be delayed or prevented?

Yes. The results of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) proved that weight loss through moderate diet changes and physical activity can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. The DPP was a federally funded study of 3,234 people at high risk for diabetes. This study showed that a 5-to 7-percent weight loss, which for a 200-pound person would be 10 to 14 pounds, slowed development of type 2 diabetes.

People at High Risk for Diabetes

DPP study participants were overweight and had higher than normal levels of blood glucose, a condition called prediabetes. Many had family members with type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes, obesity, and a family history of diabetes are strong risk factors for type 2 diabetes. About half of the DPP participants were from minority groups with high rates of diabetes, including African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Pacific Islander Americans.

DPP participants also included others at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, such as women with a history of gestational diabetes and people age 60 and older.

Approaches to Preventing Diabetes

The DPP tested three approaches to preventing diabetes:

Making lifestyle changes. People in the lifestyle change group exercised, usually by walking 5 days a week for about 30 minutes a day, and lowered their intake of fat and calories. Taking the diabetes medicine metformin. Those who took metformin also received information about physical activity and diet. Receiving education about diabetes. The third group only received information about physical activity and diet and took a placebo—a pill without medicine in it.

People in the lifestyle change group showed the best outcomes. But people who took metformin also benefited. The results showed that by losing an average of 15 pounds in the first year of the study, people in the lifestyle change group reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent over 3 years. Lifestyle change was even more effective in those age 60 and older. People in this group reduced their risk by 71 percent. But people in the metformin group also benefited, reducing their risk by 31 percent. More information about the DPP, funded under National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical trial number NCT00004992, is available at www.bsc.gwu.edu/dppExternal Link Disclaimer.

Lasting Results

The Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS) has shown that the benefits of weight loss and metformin last for at least 10 years. The DPPOS has continued to follow most DPP participants since the DPP ended in 2001. The DPPOS showed that 10 years after enrolling in the DPP,

people in the lifestyle change group reduced their risk for developing diabetes by 34 percent those in the lifestyle change group age 60 or older had even greater benefit, reducing their risk of developing diabetes by 49 percent participants in the lifestyle change group also had fewer heart and blood vessel disease risk factors, including lower blood pressure and triglyceride levels, even though they took fewer medicines to control their heart disease risk the metformin group reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 18 percent

Even though controlling your weight with lifestyle changes is challenging, it produces long-term health rewards by lowering your risk for type 2 diabetes, lowering your blood glucose levels, and reducing other heart disease risk factors. More information about the DPPOS, funded under NIH clinical trial number NCT00038727, can be found at www.bsc.gwu.edu/dppExternal Link Disclaimer.

People in the lifestyle change group exercised, usually by walking 5 days a week for about 30 minutes a day. [Top] Other Types of Diabetes

In addition to type 2, the other main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes, is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, and young adults. In this type of diabetes, your pancreas can no longer make insulin because your body’s immune system has attacked and destroyed the cells that make it. Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes taking insulin shots or using an insulin pump, making wise food choices, being physically active on a regular basis, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, and, for some, taking aspirin daily.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops only during pregnancy. Hormones produced by your placenta and other pregnancy-related factors contribute to insulin resistance, which occurs in all women during late pregnancy. Insulin resistance increases the amount of insulin needed to control blood glucose levels. If your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin, gestational diabetes occurs.

As with type 2 diabetes, excess weight is linked to gestational diabetes. Overweight or obese women are at particularly high risk for gestational diabetes because they start pregnancy with a higher need for insulin due to insulin resistance. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy may also increase risk. Gestational diabetes occurs more often in some ethnic groups and among women with a family history of diabetes.

Although gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, a woman who has had gestational diabetes is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Babies born to mothers who had gestational diabetes are also more likely to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes as they grow up.

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What are the signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be so mild that you might not even notice them. Nearly 7 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes and don’t know they have the disease. Many have no signs or symptoms. Some people have symptoms but do not suspect diabetes.

Symptoms include

increased thirst increased hunger fatigue increased urination, especially at night unexplained weight loss blurred vision numbness or tingling in the feet or hands sores that do not heal

Many people do not find out they have the disease until they have diabetes problems, such as blurred vision or heart trouble. If you find out early that you have diabetes, you can get treatment to prevent damage to your body.

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Should I be tested for diabetes and prediabetes?

Anyone 45 years of age or older should consider getting tested for diabetes and prediabetes. If you are 45 or older and overweight—see the body mass index (BMI) chart—getting tested is strongly recommended. If you are younger than 45, overweight, and have one or more other risk factors, you should consider getting tested. Ask your doctor for an A1C test, a fasting blood glucose test, or an oral glucose tolerance test.

Your doctor will tell you if you have normal blood glucose, diabetes, or prediabetes. If you are told you have prediabetes, take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes. And ask your doctor if you should be tested again in 1 year.

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What does having prediabetes mean?

Having prediabetes means your blood glucose is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. In 2009, at least 78 million American adults were estimated to have prediabetes. Having prediabetes also means you are at risk for getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease. However, you can reduce your risk of getting diabetes and even return blood glucose levels to normal by losing a little weight through healthy eating and being more physically active.

[Top] What factors increase my risk for type 2 diabetes?

To find out your risk for type 2 diabetes, check each item that applies to you.

I am age 45 or older. I am overweight or obese. I have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes. My family background is African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander American. I have had gestational diabetes. I gave birth to at least one baby weighing more than 9 pounds. My blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, or I have been told that I have high blood pressure. My cholesterol levels are higher than normal. My HDL, or good, cholesterol is below 35, or my triglyceride level is above 250. I am fairly inactive. I have polycystic ovary syndrome, also called PCOS. On previous testing, I had prediabetes—an A1C level of 5.7 to 6.4 percent, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). I have other clinical conditions associated with insulin resistance, such as a condition called acanthosis nigricans, characterized by a dark, velvety rash around my neck or armpits. I have a history of cardiovascular disease.

The more items you checked, the higher your risk.

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Does sleep matter?

Yes. Studies show that untreated sleep problems, especially sleep apnea, can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Most people who have sleep apnea don’t know they have it and it often goes undiagnosed. Night shift workers who have problems with sleepiness may also be at increased risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

If you think you might have sleep problems, ask your doctor for help. More information about sleep problems is available from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/resources/sleepExternal NIH LinkExternal NIH Link.

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How can I reduce my risk for type 2 diabetes?

You can do a lot to reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Being more physically active, reducing fat and calorie intake, and losing a little weight can help you lower your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Taking the diabetes medicine metformin can also reduce risk, particularly in younger and heavier people with prediabetes and women who have had gestational diabetes. Lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels also helps you stay healthy.

If you are overweight, then take these steps:

Reach and maintain a reasonable body weight. Even a 10 or 15 pound weight loss makes a big difference. Make wise food choices most of the time. Be physically active every day.

If you are fairly inactive, then take this step:

Be physically active every day.

If your blood pressure is too high, then take these steps:

Reach and maintain a reasonable body weight. Make wise food choices most of the time. Reduce your sodium and alcohol intake. Be physically active every day. Talk with your doctor about whether you need medicine to control your blood pressure.

If your cholesterol or triglyceride levels are too high, then take these steps:

Make wise food choices most of the time. Be physically active every day. Talk with your doctor about whether you need medicine to control your cholesterol levels.

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Making Changes to Lower My Risk

Making big changes in your life is hard, especially if you are faced with more than one change. You can make it easier by taking these steps:

Make a plan to change behavior. Decide exactly what you will do and give yourself a time frame. Plan what you need to get ready. Track your goals and activity on a food and activity tracker, available at www.ndep.nih.gov/media/gp_foodacttracker.pdfExternal NIDDK Link (PDF, 349 KB) Think about what might prevent you from reaching your goals. Find family and friends who will support and encourage you. Decide how you will reward yourself—a shopping trip, movie tickets, an afternoon in the park—when you do what you have planned. Your doctor, a dietitian, or a counselor can help you make a plan.

Be Physically Active Every Day

Regular physical activity tackles several risk factors at once. Activity helps you lose weight; keeps your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control; and helps your body use insulin. People in the DPP who were physically active for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes. Many chose brisk walking as their physical activity.

If you are not fairly active, you should start slowly. First, talk with your doctor about what kinds of physical activity are safe for you. Make a plan to increase your activity level toward the goal of being active at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week. You can increase your level of physical activity in two main ways:

1. Start an exercise program.

2. Increase your daily activity.

Start an exercise program. Pick exercises that suit you. Find a friend to walk with you or join an exercise class that will help you keep going.

Do aerobic activities, which use your large muscles to make your heart beat faster. The large muscles are those of the upper and lower arms; upper and lower legs; and those that control head, shoulder, and hip movements. Do activities to strengthen muscles and bone, such as lifting weights or sit-ups, two to three times a week. Find help—such as a video or a class—to learn how to do these exercises properly.

Do activities to strengthen muscles and bone, such as lifting weights or sit-ups, two to three times a week.

Increase your daily activity. Choose activities you enjoy. You can work extra activity into your daily routine by doing the following:

Increase daily activity by decreasing time spent watching TV or at the computer. Set up a reminder on your computer to take an activity break. Take the stairs rather than an elevator or escalator. Park at the far end of the parking lot and walk. Get off the bus a few stops early and walk the rest of the way. Walk or bicycle whenever you can. Choose activities you enjoy.

Take Your Prescribed Medicines

Some people need medicine to help control their blood pressure or cholesterol levels. If you do, take your medicines as directed. Ask your doctor if you should take metformin to prevent type 2 diabetes. Metformin is a medicine that makes insulin work better and can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

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Eating, Diet, and Nutrition

Your eating, diet, and nutrition choices play an important role in preventing or delaying diabetes. Follow the suggestions below to reach and maintain a reasonable weight and make wise food choices most of the time. Remember that it can take time to change your habits and be patient with yourself. You can also get help from a dietitian or join a weight-loss program to support you while you reach your goals.

Reach and Maintain a Reasonable Body Weight

Your weight affects your health in many ways. Being overweight can keep your body from making and using insulin properly. Excess body weight can also cause high blood pressure. Every pound you lose lowers your risk of getting diabetes.

In addition to weight, the location of excess fat on the body can be important. A waist measurement of 40 inches or more for men and 35 inches or more for women is linked to insulin resistance and increases a person’s risk for type 2 diabetes. This is true even if your BMI falls within the normal range.

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Measure Your Waist

To measure your waist,

place a tape measure around your bare abdomen just above your hip bone make sure the tape is snug but isn’t digging into your skin and is parallel to the floor relax, exhale, and measure Source: www.cdc.govExternal Link Disclaimer Find Your BMI

The BMI is a measure of body weight relative to height. The BMI can help you find out whether you are normal weight, overweight, or obese. Use the table on pages 24 and 25 to find your BMI.

Find your height in the left-hand column. Move across in the same row to the number closest to your weight. The number at the top of that column is your BMI. Check the word above your BMI to see whether you are normal weight, overweight, or obese.

The BMI has certain limitations. The BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build and underestimate body fat in older adults and others who have lost muscle.

The BMI for children and teens must be determined based on age, height, weight, and sex. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has information about BMI in children and teens, including a BMI calculator, at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmiExternal Link Disclaimer. The CDC website also has a BMI calculator for adults. A BMI calculator from the NIH is available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htmExternal NIH Link.

The NIH also has a free smartphone app for calculating BMI. You can search “My BMI Calculator” on your phone to find the app. The app also provides links to information about steps you can take to bring your BMI into a healthy range.

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Body Mass Index Table For a printer-friendly version of this table, use thePDF Version(410 KB). Body Mass Index Table 1 of 2 Normal Overweight Obese BMI 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Height
(inches) Body Weight (pounds) 58 91 96 100 105 110 115 119 124 129 134 138 143 148 153 158 162 167 59 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 173 60 97 102 107 112 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 174 179 61 100 106 111 116 122 127 132 137 143 148 153 158 164 169 174 180 185 62 104 109 115 120 126 131 136 142 147 153 158 164 169 175 180 186 191 63 107 113 118 124 130 135 141 146 152 158 163 169 175 180 186 191 197 64 110 116 122 128 134 140 145 151 157 163 169 174 180 186 192 197 204 65 114 120 126 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 174 180 186 192 198 204 210 66 118 124 130 136 142 148 155 161 167 173 179 186 192 198 204 210 216 67 121 127 134 140 146 153 159 166 172 178 185 191 198 204 211 217 223 68 125 131 138 144 151 158 164 171 177 184 190 197 203 210 216 223 230 69 128 135 142 149 155 162 169 176 182 189 196 203 209 216 223 230 236 70 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 209 216 222 229 236 243 71 136 143 150 157 165 172 179 186 193 200 208 215 222 229 236 243 250 72 140 147 154 162 169 177 184 191 199 206 213 221 228 235 242 250 258 73 144 151 159 166 174 182 189 197 204 212 219 227 235 242 250 257 265 74 148 155 163 171 179 186 194 202 210 218 225 233 241 249 256 264 272 75 152 160 168 176 184 192 200 208 216 224 232 240 248 256 264 272 279 76 156 164 172 180 189 197 205 213 221 230 238 246 254 263 271 279 287

Body Mass Index Table 2 of 2 Obese Extreme Obesity BMI 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 Height
(inches) Body Weight (pounds) 58 172 177 181 186 191 196 201 205 210 215 220 224 229 234 239 244 248 253 258 59 178 183 188 193 198 203 208 212 217 222 227 232 237 242 247 252 257 262 267 60 184 189 194 199 204 209 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 261 266 271 276 61 190 195 201 206 211 217 222 227 232 238 243 248 254 259 264 269 275 280 285 62 196 202 207 213 218 224 229 235 240 246 251 256 262 267 273 278 284 289 295 63 203 208 214 220 225 231 237 242 248 254 259 265 270 278 282 287 293 299 304 64 209 215 221 227 232 238 244 250 256 262 267 273 279 285 291 296 302 308 314 65 216 222 228 234 240 246 252 258 264 270 276 282 288 294 300 306 312 318 324 66 223 229 235 241 247 253 260 266 272 278 284 291 297 303 309 315 322 328 334 67 230 236 242 249 255 261 268 274 280 287 293 299 306 312 319 325 331 338 344 68 236 243 249 256 262 269 276 282 289 295 302 308 315 322 328 335 341 348 354 69 243 250 257 263 270 277 284 291 297 304 311 318 324 331 338 345 351 358 365 70 250 257 264 271 278 285 292 299 306 313 320 327 334 341 348 355 362 369 376 71 257 265 272 279 286 293 301 308 315 322 329 338 343 351 358 365 372 379 386 72 265 272 279 287 294 302 309 316 324 331 338 346 353 361 368 375 383 390 397 73 272 280 288 295 302 310 318 325 333 340 348 355 363 371 378 386 393 401 408 74 280 287 295 303 311 319 326 334 342 350 358 365 373 381 389 396 404 412 420 75 287 295 303 311 319 327 335 343 351 359 367 375 383 391 399 407 415 423 431 76 295 304 312 320 328 336 344 353 361 369 377 385 394 402 410 418 426 435 443

Source: Adapted from Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: The Evidence Report. National Institutes of Health, 1998.

If you are overweight or obese, choose sensible ways to get in shape:

Avoid crash diets. Instead, eat less of the foods you usually have. Limit the amount of fat you eat. Increase your physical activity. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Set a reasonable weight-loss goal, such as losing 1 pound a week. Aim for a long-term goal of losing 5 to 7 percent of your total body weight. To estimate this amount in pounds, find the weight closest to yours on the chart below. Follow the row across to see how many pounds you need to lose. Your weight in pounds 5 percent loss in pounds 7 percent loss in pounds 150 8 11 175 9 12 200 10 14 225 11 16 250 13 18 275 14 19 300 15 21 325 16 23 350 18 25

To find your exact weight loss goal, multiply .05 by your weight in pounds to find your 5 percent goal; multiply .07 by your weight to find your 7 percent goal.

Make Wise Food Choices Most of the Time

What you eat has a big effect on your health. By making wise food choices, you can help control your body weight, blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Take a look at the serving sizes of the foods you eat. Reduce serving sizes of main courses, meat, desserts, and other foods high in fat. Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat at every meal. Try using a small plate. For more help with choosing serving sizes, see the United States Department of Agriculture’s website at www.choosemyplate.govExternal Link Disclaimer. Limit your fat intake to about 25 percent of your total calories. For example, if your food choices add up to about 2,000 calories a day, try to eat no more than 56 grams of fat. Your doctor or a dietitian can help you figure out how much fat to have. You can also check food labels for fat content. Limit your sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams—about 1 teaspoon of salt—each day. Talk with your doctor about whether you may drink alcoholic beverages. If you choose to drink alcoholic beverages, limit your intake to one drink for women or two drinks for men per day. You may also wish to reduce the number of calories you have each day. People in the DPP lifestyle change group lowered their daily calorie total by an average of about 450 calories. Your doctor or dietitian can help you with a healthy eating plan that emphasizes weight loss. Keep a food and physical activity log. Write down what you eat and how much physical activity you are getting. People who keep track are more successful in losing weight. When you meet your goal, reward yourself with a nonfood item or activity, such as watching a movie. Reduce foods high in fat and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat at every meal. Dietary Supplements

Vitamin D studies show a link between people’s ability to maintain healthy blood glucose levels and having enough vitamin D in their blood. However, studies to determine the proper vitamin D levels for people with diabetes and for preventing diabetes are ongoing; no special recommendations have been made about vitamin D levels or supplements for people with diabetes.

Currently, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the agency that recommends supplementation levels based on current science, provides the following guidelines for daily vitamin D intake:

People ages 1 to 70 years may require 600 International Units (IUs) People age 71 and older may require as much as 800 IUs

The IOM also recommended that no more than 4,000 IUs of vitamin D be taken per day.

To help ensure coordinated and safe care, you should discuss your use of complementary and alternative medicine practices, including your use of dietary supplements, with your doctor.

More information about using dietary supplements to help with diabetes is available from the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse at http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/Diabetes/complementary-alternative-medical-therapies-diabetes/Pages/index.aspx.


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