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Lifestyle Check: Are You at an Increased Risk For Diabetes?

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and 2. Type 1 is normally a genetic predisposition that cannot be avoided in your lifetime. However, type 2 diabetes can be fought off with a healthy lifestyle. It’s time to take a lifestyle check so that you can understand your risk level for diabetes. Avoiding this disease entirely is always the goal.

Putting on the Pounds

Increased weight is one of the hallmarks of diabetic risk. Your body simply has more mass to support. As fatty tissue develops, these cells become less sensitive to insulin. This substance regulates the glucose throughout the body. It’s produced by the pancreas where it’s distributed by the bloodstream. Extra weight forces the pancreas to make more insulin that’s not necessarily absorbed by the proper tissues. The result is a diabetic state that can become permanent unless you lose some fatty tissue through exercise and diet.

Sitting for Most of the Day

Leading a sedentary lifestyle is a recipe for diabetes. You aren’t using your muscles, which leads to extra fat cells. Any glucose in your body won’t be burned, and it’s subsequently stored as fat. Activity also helps your body produce and absorb insulin more readily. There are countless reasons to get up and start moving so that your diabetic-risk factors drop dramatically. Walk around your work space during breaks, or perform pushups during television commercials. Any movement will help your body get back on track.

Examining Your Family History

A risk factor that’s hard to avoid is your family history. Be diligent about looking up medical histories from your blood relatives. Note if they had type 1 or 2 diabetes, the age of onset and any complications. This information can help doctors treat you before any major changes occur in the body. If your family tends to develop diabetes in their 30s or 40s, doctors can be on the lookout for any indicators. You can also be extra diligent about diet and exercise with this knowledge in mind.

Evaluating Cardiovascular Health

High blood pressure, poor cholesterol numbers and other cardiovascular issues may point to a higher diabetic risk too. Although the links are still uncertain between diabetes and cardiovascular issues, the presence of extra fats in the bloodstream indicates an issue with sugar regulation. You might have poor glucose-burning processes, which may lead to diabetes. Doctors must control the cholesterol and blood pressure in order to ward off potential diabetes. Every body system is linked in some way to chronic ailments.

Aging Plays a Role

As you age into your senior years, diabetes risks begin to climb. You may not be as flexible or active as once before. Genetic factors might play a role as you develop either type 1 or 2 diabetes. Keep up-to-date with your sugar levels as each doctor’s visit comes and goes. If your levels aren’t staying very steady, discuss certain options with your doctor. Although aging is a risk factor itself, you can always encourage a healthy body with fewer sugars in the portions.

If you’re having any issues with your sugar or glucose levels, be sure to visit your doctor. Professionals can perform certain tests to verify why your body is acting in this manner. By following some basic guidelines, you can prevent diabetes for your entire lifetime along with a physician’s help.