How can I lower my risk of diabetes?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:The most important things you can do to lower your risk of diabetes are to keep your waist thin, exercise (30 minutes daily), and keep your blood pressure under control.
High blood pressure can really magnify the effects of diabetes by aging your arteries; both high blood pressure and high blood sugar cause nicks or holes in the arteries' walls that trigger the destructive process of inflammation and result in atherosclerosis. Clogged arteries lack the ability to deliver blood to certain key areas, like the heart, brain, penis, and clitoris, which leads to heart attack, stroke, impotence, and decline of orgasm quality. A little physical activity can dramatically improve the ability of insulin to get glucose into many cells, especially muscle.
Find out more about this book: You: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty
The most important things you can do to lower your risk of diabetes are to keep your waist thin, exercise (30 minutes daily), and keep your blood pressure under control. High blood pressure can really magnify the effects of diabetes by aging your... More -
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:The keys to reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes are:
Lose weight -- If you are overweight or obese, you have a higher risk of developing diabetes than people whose weight is considered appropriate for their height.
Increase your physical activity -- Losing weight involves burning more calories through physical activity than you take in through food.
Cut your carbs -- That is, reduce your intake of simple carbohydrates, such as refined sugars and flours, which the body quickly converts into sugar and causes your blood sugar to spike.
See your doctor regularly -- Report any new symptoms or changes, such as sudden weight loss, increased fatigue, hunger, or thirst, or more frequent urination.
Lower your blood pressure -- Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is twice as common in people with diabetes than in others.
Reduce your stress -- While life is often filled with its natural stresses and strains, scientific studies suggest stress management training can help people with diabetes control their blood-sugar levels. Research also shows that stress reduction can help lower high blood pressure, an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes.The keys to reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes are: Lose weight -- If you are overweight or obese, you have a higher risk of developing diabetes than people whose weight is considered appropriate for their height. Increase your physical... More -
American Diabetes Association answered:It may sound like a no-brainer, but the best way to reduce risk for type 2 diabetes is to be fit and to maintain a healthy weight. Okay, that’s a lot easier said than done. However, knowing it can be done is encouraging!
Studies show that people at high risk for diabetes may be able to prevent diabetes with weight loss, healthy eating, and exercise.
One of the most famous studies that looked at the prevention of type 2 diabetes is called the Diabetes Prevention Plan study or DPP. Scientists studied whether changing lifestyle habits, such as choosing healthier foods and physical activity, or taking diabetes medication could delay or prevent type 2 diabetes in people at high risk for the disease. The study ended a year early, when scientists discovered some amazing results!
DPP Study Results
- People who lost about 7% of their body weight through eating well and increasing their physical activity (30 minutes a day five times a week) had a 58% lower incidence of diabetes than people who took a placebo (dummy pill).
- People in the study who took the diabetes medication metformin had 31% lower incidence of diabetes than people who took a placebo.
It may sound like a no-brainer, but the best way to reduce risk for type 2 diabetes is to be fit and to maintain a healthy weight. Okay, that’s a lot easier said than done. However, knowing it can be done is encouraging! Studies... More
