November is Diabetes Awareness Month and the worldwide Diabetes Awareness Day is November 14th. So we’re dedicating posts to prevention and screening of the disease.
There are two types of diabetes: Type I and Type II. Symptoms of Type I may develop rapidly within weeks or months of being diagnosed. Type II, however, can be much slower or there may be no symptoms at all.
Type I is caused by a genetic predisposition and research for preventing this type is limited. Existing research indicates that breastfeeding and giving children Vitamin D leading up to the first birthday may reduce the risk of developing diabetes later in life. Type II is more likely to be caused by environmental influences like diet, exercise, and weight. Maintaining healthy cholesterol, weight and living actively can reduce the risk of developing Type II.
Screening
Screening for diabetes should begin at age 45 and screening should become routine. Screening includes a blood test. People with certain risk factors should begin screening earlier than 45.
Risk factors include:
- Overweight or obesity
- High cholesterol
- A family history of diabetes
- High blood pressure
- A family history of heart disease
Diet
Diet is an important factor in the prevention of Type II diabetes. Studies have shown that a poor diet, with a sedentary lifestyle, among young people has lead to an increase in juvenile diabetes. Foods that are high protein and fiber and low in fat may lead to decreased chances of developing diabetes. Check out tomorrow’s post for more details about proper diet and diabetes.
Exercise
Exercise is crucial in prevention of diabetes. Experts say that most people should have at least two and a half hours of activity per week to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Check out some of our other blogs exercise tips and information.
