Risk Factors For Diabetes?

There are several factors which increase your risk of developing diabetes. Some of them are modifiable like lifestyle, eating habits where as other cannot be changed such as age, family history and genetics.

Your risk of developing diabetes is increased if:

• You are older than 45 years
• You have history of diabetes during a previous pregnancy
• You are obese or overweight (especially around the waist)
• You have family history of diabetes
• Your HDL cholesterol is < 35 mg/dL
• Your blood triglycerides levels (a type of fat molecule) are elevated (>250 mg/dl)
• You have high blood pressure (greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg)
• You have impaired glucose tolerance or insulin resistance
• You have a sedentary lifestyle (exercising less than 3 times a week)
• You have metabolic syndrome
• You have polycystic ovarian syndrome
• You are of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans decent

If you have several of the above mentioned risk factors your risk of developing diabetes becomes higher.

Everyone older than 45 years of age should get blood sugar (glucose) tested regularly (at least every 3 years). People at higher risk of developing diabetes should get their blood sugar tested more often.

What can you do to decrease the risk?

Factors such as age, family history and race cannot be modified. But you can change your lifestyle and eating habits to lower your risk of developing diabetes

• If you are obese reduce your weight and aim for a target body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 to 24.9.
• Do regular exercises or any other physical activity (moderate physical activity for 30 minutes on most days of the week is also adequate).
• Eat a balanced and healthy diet that gives enough calories to maintain a healthy weight. Try to include a variety of foods from each major food group in your diet. This will ensures that you eat a balanced and nutritious diet which contains all the protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber you need.
• Take care of your portion sizes. Do not take more calories than required as ---even proteins and carbohydrates taken in excess are converted to fats and stored in the body. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes.
• Limit intake of sweets and salt, alcoholic beverages

Lifestyle modifications can decrease, prevent or delay development of diabetes. So make healthy lifestyle choices.

Dr Poonam Sachdeva, our in-house medical expert talks about the why what and how in diabetes.

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