Friday, March 22, 2024

How To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

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Cut Down On Sugars And Refined Carbs

How to prevent type 2 diabetes | Pat’s Story | Diabetes UK

Refined carbs

Not all carbs are bad for your health in fact, your body needs carbs for energy. However, refined carbs can heavily impact the risk of diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. This is because refined or simple carbs have had most of the fiber, vitamins, and minerals removed leaving them as high-calorie unhealthy foods packed with sugar.

Refined carbs and sugar foods include pastries, sodas, pasta, white rice, cereals, sweets, and many other foods most people consume on a daily basis.

Because refined carbs and sugars are digested quickly as well as have a high glycemic index, they cause spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels after meals and can also cause overeating leading to the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Who Is At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes

Many Americans are at risk for type 2 diabetes. Your chances of getting it depend on a combination of risk factors such as your genes and lifestyle. The risk factors include:

  • Having prediabetes, which means you have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes
  • Being overweight or having obesity
  • Being age 45 or older
  • A family history of diabetes
  • Being African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
  • Having acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition in which your skin becomes dark and thick, especially around your neck or armpits
  • Smoking

Report Of The Chief Medical Officer Of Health

Early Identification and Effective Management Rehabilitation

Southern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative Seniors and Diabetes Initiative

Diabetes : A Public Health Challenge

In Ontario today, 628,000 people – or six per cent of the population – have been diagnosed with diabetes. In fact, one Ontarian is newly diagnosed with diabetes every 20 minutes! Diabetes was the cause of death for more than 2,200 people in 1996. Forty per cent of people with diabetes will develop debilitating complications such as blindness, kidney failure, or heart disease. In addition, some people will undergo foot, toe or leg amputations. All these complications from diabetes are devastating for the individual, the family, and the province’s health system.

Besides physical problems, people with diabetes can experience anxiety and depression from living a restricted lifestyle. They may lose productivity due to work or school absences. They may see a decrease in their earning potential because of the development of complications. As well, changing personal routines can affect other family members. Because the physical, social, economic and emotional burden of diabetes is substantial, diabetes is a major public health concern.

Even though diabetes is a serious problem, this disease is manageable if individuals, communities, health care providers, and policy-makers are given and use the information and tools to motivate and support behavioural change.

What is Diabetes?

Health system costs

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Prognosis Of Type 2 Diabetes

Dont lose hope, though. You dont have to be a statistic. Receiving a prompt diagnosis can help you get your health on track and reduce your risk for complications.

Indeed, if you take care to manage your blood sugar by following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, taking your prescribed medication, and losing weight, you may find your quality of life to be better with diabetes than it was before your diagnosis.

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Eat Well During Pregnancy

How to Delay or Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

During pregnancy, morning sickness, cravings, and food aversions can make it challenging to eat a nutritious diet.

However, eating well can help prevent gestational diabetes and ensure that a woman only gains a healthy amount of weight during each trimester.

Healthful food choices include:

It is best to avoid:

  • processed foods
  • sugary beverages, including store-bought coffee drinks, energy drinks, juices, and sodas
  • extra or added sugar

Also Check: How Many Carbs Should A Pre Diabetic Eat Per Day

Internal Medicine Physicians Are Uniquely Qualified To Treat Type 2 Diabetes

One of the things that differentiate internal medicine physicians from other specialties, is that we take a holistic approach to the whole patient. We not only examine the health and well-being of your bodys system, but we look for how a problem in one part of your body can affect another part. This is one reason why were experts at treating those with long-term, chronic health conditions. Were also well-versed in caring for those with more than one serious health problem.

Would you like to know more about the benefits of internal medicine physicians? Are you concerned about your blood sugar or are you at risk for Type 2 diabetes?

Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

If youd like to know more about Type 2 diabetes and what you can do to prevent it, check out our previous post How Often Should Diabetics Check Their Blood Sugar?

How Can I Protect Myself From Getting Type 2 Diabetes

If you want to help keep yourself from getting type 2 diabetes or just be healthier in lots of other ways take these steps:

  • Eat good-for-you foods. Try to eat foods that are low in fat and high in other nutrients like whole-grain cereals and breads, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and lean proteins. These super foods provide you with the nutrition you need to grow, but are also great for helping you get to or stay at a healthy weight, which can help prevent type 2 diabetes.
  • Limit fast food and sugary sodas. Eating lots of calorie-laden fast food and sugar-filled beverages like sodas, juices, and iced teas can lead to a lot of weight gain.
  • Get up and go. Staying active and decreasing the amount of time spent in sedentary activities can also help to prevent type 2 diabetes. You don’t need to join a gym or commit to three sports every school year being active can be as simple as walking the dog or mowing the lawn. Try to do something that gets you moving every day.
  • If you have questions about your weight, ask. If you think you may be overweight or you’re just wondering what being healthy is all about, a doctor or a registered dietitian can help. These health care pros can help you find out what your weight goals should be and how to get there and stay there.

Read Also: How Do You Treat Diabetic Retinopathy

Ways To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Uncontrolled cases can cause blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and other serious conditions.

Before diabetes is diagnosed, there is a period where blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. This is known as prediabetes.

Its estimated that up to 70% of people with prediabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, progressing from prediabetes to diabetes isnt inevitable .

Although there are certain factors you cant change such as your genes, age or past behaviors there are many actions you can take to reduce the risk of diabetes.

Here are 13 ways to avoid getting diabetes.

Eating sugary foods and refined carbs can put at-risk individuals on the fast track to developing diabetes.

Your body rapidly breaks these foods down into small sugar molecules, which are absorbed into your bloodstream.

The resulting rise in blood sugar stimulates your pancreas to produce insulin, a hormone that helps sugar get out of the bloodstream and into your bodys cells.

In people with prediabetes, the bodys cells are resistant to insulins action, so sugar remains high in the blood. To compensate, the pancreas produces more insulin, attempting to bring blood sugar down to a healthy level.

Over time, this can lead to progressively higher blood sugar and insulin levels, until the condition eventually turns into type 2 diabetes.

How To Help Prevent And Manage Type

How Can I Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?

Walmart pharmacies carry a wide selection of over-the-counter products tailored to people living with diabetes including options from the store’s Equate brand.Shawn Fulton

Theres a good chance you know at least one person living with diabetes or are dealing with it yourself its one of the most common chronic diseases in Canada.According to Diabetes Canada, one in three Canadians has diabetes or prediabetes, yet less than half can identify the main warning signs. And many dont know that untreated diabetes can sometimes lead to heart disease and stroke, plus other medical problems.

Diabetes Canada also says that about 90 to 95 per cent of cases in this country are Type 2, which is often developed after age 40 although over the past two decades an increasing number of children are being diagnosed with it. Type 2 diabetes is often related to risk factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle and family history.

If you have diabetes or prediabetes, you can potentiallyhelp avoid some of the complications by effectively managing your health.

Take advantage of World Diabetes Day, a nationally recognized event on November 14 focused on raising awareness of the disease, and get a free blood-glucose test at a Walmart pharmacy. Consider coming in both for testing and to book an appointment with a Walmart pharmacist.

Also Check: Healthy Diet For Diabetes And High Cholesterol

Choose Drinks Without Added Sugar

We know there is a link between having full sugar fizzy and energy drinks, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Cutting down on these can help to reduce your risk and support keeping your weight down. Evidence also shows that drinking unsweetened tea and coffee is associated with a reduced risk. If you are finding it hard to cut down, look out for diet or low calorie versions of soft drinks and check theres no added sugar. Try not to replace sugary drinks with fruit juices or smoothies as these still contain a high amount of free sugar. Try plain water, plain milk, tea or coffee without added sugar, as replacements.

> > > Discover The 1 Green Veggie That Worsens Diabetes Type 2 Symptoms

Diabetes can be managed through oral medications. In addition to insulin, metformin, which is a sugar-reducing agent, is also a common treatment for diabetes. It is considered a first-line therapy for diabetes treatment and is often added to insulin. It is important to know the risks of taking diabetes medications. Some drugs can be addictive, so you must consult your doctor before taking any medication. Your physician can prescribe you an appropriate treatment plan based on your medical history.

Your doctor will prescribe medication and check your blood glucose levels on a regular basis. Your A1c level will be checked every six months and your cholesterol levels will be tested regularly. Your doctor will also look for any signs of retinopathy, which is damage to the nerves in the eye caused by diabetes. You will also be examined for any foot problems. It is important to see a foot specialist regularly. Your feet should be thoroughly inspected for damage to the nerves.

While the first two types of insulin are the most common treatments, diabetes can be treated in a variety of ways. Your doctor may prescribe medications to control high blood pressure, which can protect the kidneys. Other types of medication include aspirin and other types of anti-platelet drugs. If your doctor is concerned about your blood sugar level, you may need to try a different medication. Some medications can cause side effects. Your treatment will depend on what type of insulin you need.

Recommended Reading: Normal Glucose Range For Diabetics

Diagnosing Prediabetes And Diabetes

If you think you have prediabetes talk to your doctor about getting tested today. The only way to know for sure is to get your blood work analyzed. A series of tests are needed to confirm diagnoses for prediabetes or diabetes. The tests include a fasting blood glucose test , an oral glucose tolerance test and an A1C test.1

To make sure youre prepared for the FBG test, and ensure an accurate reading, you have to restrain from eating or drinking anything for eight hours prior to your test. The OGTT will look at how your body absorbs glucose after two hours and an A1C test examines your blood glucose levels over the past few months.1

If you receive an FBG of 100 to 125 mg/dL, a two-hour OGTT of 140 to 199 mg/dL, or an A1C that falls between 5.7 and 6.4 percent, your doctor will diagnose you with prediabetes.1

If you receive an FBG thats greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL, a two-hour OGTT thats greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL, or an A1C that is greater than or equal to 6.5 percent, your doctor will diagnose you with diabetes.1

How To Prevent Diabetes

How to prevent diabetes Type 2?
  • Eat healthy foods. Plan meals that limit foods that contain carbohydrates, which raise your blood sugar. Carbohydrates include starches, fruits, milk, yogurt, starchy vegetables and sweets. Substitute more non-starchy vegetables into your meals to stay satisfied for fewer carbohydrates and calories, Compston says.
  • Exercise. Blood sugar is the bodys basic energy source. When you exercise, you are lowering your blood sugar. People with prediabetes usually want to stay off of medication, so they must add something to their normal regimen that lowers blood sugar, Compston says. In this case, exercise is medicine.
  • Lose weight. A small decrease in your weight can drastically decrease your risk of developing diabetes in the future. The Diabetes Prevention Program study showed that a 7 percent decrease in body weight can reduce a persons risk of developing the disease by 58 percent.
  • Get more rest. Studies link sleep issues to an increased risk of insulin resistance. It can also make it harder to lose weight. Thus, people that dont get adequate sleep are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
  • See your doctor regularly. Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider at least once a year so you can track your health together. A regular check-up and lab work can help identify what your blood sugars are doing so you and your doctor can develop a good plan for delaying the onset of diabetes, Compston says.
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    Go Into Pregnancy At A Healthy Weight

    A woman looking to conceive should make lifestyle choices that can help her reach and maintain a healthy weight ahead of getting pregnant.

    The authors of a 2018 study looked at 10 years of data on gestational diabetes and concluded that being overweight was a significant risk factor.

    Other confirms that having a BMI higher than 25 increases a womans likelihood of developing gestational diabetes. However, the researchers also noted that making dietary changes reduced the risk.

    People looking to lose weight can take steps to modify their diet, such as:

    • measuring out smaller portion sizes
    • avoiding packaged food and junk food
    • replacing candy with fruit
    • eating more lean protein, such as fish and tofu, to stay fuller for longer
    • increasing fiber intake by eating plenty of vegetables and whole grains
    • replacing juices, dairy-laden coffee drinks, and sodas with herbal tea, black coffee, or sparkling water with lemon or lime slices

    Surprising Facts About Diabetes

    It isnt just prevalent in America.

    While news headlines declare that Americans are as unhealthy as ever, Type 2 diabetes is not just occurring in record numbers in the United States. According to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles has made Type 2 diabetes a worldwide epidemic.

    Death from diabetes isnt limited to impoverished countries.

    Total deaths from diabetes are projected to rise by more than 80 percent in the next ten years in upper- and middle- income countries.

    Type 2 is prevalent.

    Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetesaccounting for 90 percent of all cases worldwide.

    Numbers are spiking.

    In the past 32 years, the number of Americans with diabetes has quadrupled. Roughly 1.7 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed each year. If the current trends continue, 1 out of every 3 adults will have diabetes by the year 2050.

    The good news is, if caught early enough, Type 2 diabetes can be managed successfully. Even better, we can help you prevent diabetes through a health care plan tailored just for you.

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    Can Type 1 Diabetes Be Prevented

    Type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented. Doctors can’t even tell who will get it and who won’t.

    In type 1 diabetes, a person’s immune system attacks the pancreas and destroys the cells that make insulin. No one knows for sure why this happens, but scientists think it has something to do with genes. Genes are like instructions for how the body should look and work that are passed on by parents to their kids. But just getting the genes for diabetes isn’t usually enough. In most cases, something else has to happen like getting a virus infection for a person to get type 1 diabetes.

    Type 1 diabetes isn’t contagious, so you can’t catch it from another person or pass it along to your friends. And stuff like eating too much sugar doesn’t cause type 1 diabetes.

    Lifestyle Changes To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Naturally

    Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

    Type 2 diabetes is a condition that is mainly caused as a result of ones nutrition and lifestyle choices. While genetics and age can impact a persons susceptibility to getting type 2 diabetes, it can be prevented by monitoring, adapting, and making changes to ones lifestyle and nutrition.

    If you find yourself on the borderline of type 2 diabetes or are prone to getting type 2 diabetes as a result of genetics or family history, here are a few lifestyle changes you can make to avoid getting type 2 diabetes naturally:

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    Attend Routine Care Appointments

    A woman should see a gynecologist regularly during pregnancy for routine care. During these visits, the doctor will ask about the pregnancy and any new symptoms.

    They will also do a pelvic exam and use an ultrasound to look at the developing fetus. A doctor may recognize some of the early signs of gestational diabetes and suggest ways to help prevent it.

    Between 24 and 28 weeks, a pregnant woman will have a gestational diabetes screening. If the results come back positive for gestational diabetes, the doctor will talk to her about how to prevent further complications.

    There are several primary risk factors for developing gestational diabetes,

    • nausea

    It is usually possible to discuss gestational diabetes at a regular scheduled appointment during pregnancy.

    However, anyone who experiences changes in symptoms or other complications should speak to a doctor or another healthcare professional as soon as possible.

    A doctor can ask the individual about their symptoms and determine whether further tests are necessary.

    It is not always possible to prevent gestational diabetes. Certain risk factors make it more likely that a woman will develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

    However, maintaining a healthy weight before and after conception, eating well, and exercising regularly during pregnancy can all reduce the risk.

    Anyone worried that they might have gestational diabetes or a higher risk of it should discuss this with a doctor at their next pregnancy checkup.

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