Diabetes Prevention

Excess body weight, especially around the abdomen, increases the body's resistance to insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Being overweight is a major risk factor for developing prediabetes and diabetes​ (Home)​.

As you age, the risk of developing prediabetes and diabetes increases due to potential weight gain and decreased physical activity. This makes regular testing crucial for early detection and prevention​.

Lack of regular physical activity can lead to weight gain and insulin resistance. Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and improves insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of diabetes​.

Having a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes increases your risk due to shared genetic and environmental factors. Family history is a significant indicator of potential diabetes risk​.

Individuals from African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander backgrounds have a higher risk of developing diabetes. These populations have higher prevalence rates and should be particularly vigilant​.

Women who gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds or were diagnosed with gestational diabetes are at higher risk. Gestational diabetes increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes later in life​.

Having blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or above, or being treated for high blood pressure, can increase the risk of diabetes. High blood pressure often accompanies other risk factors like obesity and insulin resistance​.

Chronic stress can raise blood pressure and lead to behaviors and conditions that increase heart disease risk, such as smoking, overeating, and lack of exercise. Stress can also contribute to artery damage and plaque buildup​.

Women with PCOS have a higher risk of developing diabetes due to insulin resistance associated with the condition. PCOS is linked to several metabolic abnormalities that contribute to diabetes risk​.

Having elevated blood sugar levels that are not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis (IFG or IGT) indicates a high risk for progressing to diabetes. These conditions are precursors to diabetes and require monitoring and lifestyle changes​.

Conditions such as severe obesity or acanthosis nigricans, characterized by dark, velvety patches of skin, are associated with insulin resistance. These conditions significantly increase the risk of developing diabetes​.

A history of cardiovascular disease indicates higher risk due to shared risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, and lipid abnormalities. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes often coexist and exacerbate each other's effects​.