Diabetes Defined : Prevention

by National Institute on Aging

(Page 3 of 8)

Diabetes tends to run in families, but other factors add to the risk of getting diabetes. For example, being overweight and under-active triggers diabetes in people who are at risk.

The two most common forms of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. In people with type 1 diabetes the body stops making insulin. Currently, there is no way to delay or prevent this form of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented in people who are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes or have a condition called pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes within 10 years and are also more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

A recent study by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, called the Diabetes Prevention Program, showed that people with pre-diabetes can sharply lower their chances of developing the disease through modest weight loss with diet and exercise.

That same study showed that changes in diet and exercise were especially effective in curbing the development of diabetes in older people. In fact, the development of diabetes dropped by 71 percent in adults 60 and older who were enrolled in the study.

Making modest lifestyle changes can often prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people who are at risk. Here are some tips that may help.

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. It can also cause high blood pressure. Recent studies have shown that losing even a few pounds can help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

In the Diabetes Prevention Program, people who lost 5 to 7 percent of their body weight significantly reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes. So if you weigh 200 pounds, losing only 10 pounds can make a difference.

Make wise food choices most of the time. What you eat has a big impact on your health. By making wise food choices, you can help control your body weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Be physically active every day. Regular exercise tackles several risk factors at once. It helps you lose weight, control your cholesterol and blood pressure, and improve your body's use insulin. People in the Diabetes Prevention Program study who were physically active 30 minutes a day 5 days a week reduced their weight and risk of type 2 diabetes. Many chose walking for exercise.

Take your prescribed medications. Some people need medication to help control their blood pressure or cholesterol levels. If you do, take your medicines as directed. Ask your doctor whether there are any medicines you can take to help you prevent type 2 diabetes.

Researchers are working hard to uncover the genetic and environmental factors that may put people at risk for obesity, pre-diabetes, and diabetes. As they learn more about the changes in the body that lead to diabetes, researchers will develop ways to prevent and cure the different stages of this disease.

Quiz

1. Scientists have found ways to prevent or delay type 1 diabetes.

FALSE is the correct answer. With type 1 diabetes, which arises most often in children, teenagers, and young adults, the body stops making insulin. At present, scientists do not know exactly what causes this to happen, but they think that both genetic factors and environmental factors, such as viruses, are involved. Currently, there is no way to delay or prevent this form of diabetes.

2. If you have pre-diabetes you will eventually be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes later in life.

FALSE is the correct answer. In pre-diabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. If you have pre-diabetes, you can reduce your risk of getting diabetes. With modest weight loss and moderate physical activity, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes and even return to normal glucose levels.

3. If you have pre-diabetes and are overweight, you will need to lose 30 percent of your body weight to decrease your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

FALSE is the correct answer. Recent studies found that people who lost 5 to 7 percent of their body weight significantly reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes. So if you weigh 200 pounds, losing only 10 pounds can make a difference.

4. Eating properly plays an important role in preventing type 2 diabetes.

TRUE is the correct answer. What you eat has a big impact on your health. By making wise food choices you can help control your body weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

About the Author

www.nia.nih.gov
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.