Are You a Diabetes Candidate?

By the latest reckoning, Americans suffering from diabetes have exceeded the 20 million mark and worst than that figures is the troubling reality that almost 60 million more Americans are at risks to develop the disease as they are now currently nursing pre-diabetic symptoms. That means, most of these people may already be afflicted with type two diabetes without their immediate knowledge, thus heightening the possibility that the fully-developed diabetes may be wreaking havoc in the country in a few years to come.

Yet, this can be prevented if a particular person is fully aware of the possibility that he or she may be brandishing glaring risk factors of developing the disease big time. Health experts are in agreement that both type one and type two diabetes share identical risk factors for those carrying the disease but they also noted that some of these indicators are more apparent from the other type. That means that the symptoms manifested on a patient may differ from the signals being shown by another, highlighting the importance of a definite risk factor gauging.

Doctors can always affirm that family history is a huge consideration in serious ailments, which is true with cases such as heart complications, cancer, hypertension and diabetes. The likelihood of inheriting the condition from a family relation is always there, according to health researchers. While full explanation is still vague on the actual role of genetics in developing a full-blown case of diabetes (both types), research results are pointing to the increasing assumption that the condition actually runs in the family. So, if either of a parent or a sister and even a grandma is battling the disease, it is most likely that your body may be carrying diabetes. Even if you will not develop the affliction in your lifetime, the risk of passing it on to your offspring is always strong.

Age also plays a crucial role in developing diabetes. In America alone, up to one in every 13 individuals are suffering from the disease and according to the American Diabetes Association, the more a person ages he or she becomes more vulnerable to the disease. This is more alarming in the case of type two diabetes, which seems to ravage those in the 45-plus age bracket. However, while a big number of people belonging in the mentioned age group are definitely dealing with diabetes, recent indications have revealed that kids, teenagers and even young adults are increasingly becoming susceptible to diabetes. Doctors are espousing the belief that such developments could be attributed to the prevailing lifestyles that these people are practicing.

Which leads us to the next risk factor group: those who are overweight. Obesity indeed attracts hosts of diseases and diabetes is almost a natural attachment to the condition. Too much body fat or adipose in the body breeds undue resistance to insulin and in turn shoots up a personâs sugar level. This is largely caused by the fat-induced body inflammation, which creates a sort of an internal armor against insulin, according to research findings. Yet statistics have also established that many who are overweight never acquired or more so developed the disease, rendering the supposed connection between diabetes and obesity generally debatable.

With that, health experts are zeroing on two things: improper diet and lack of physical activities. Numerous studies have revealed that malnutrition could lead to type two diabetes especially for those wanting in fiber and protein reservoir on their body. Likewise, too much intake of calories, cholesterol and fat accelerates the onset of obesity and heightens the chances of pushing our body to resist insulin.

Also, a sedentary lifestyle is a definite culprit in developing diabetes, according to doctors. Conversely, regular exercise inevitably conditions our body tissue to interact well with insulin, underscoring the importance of appropriate physical regiments in warding off the risk of diabetes. For maximum efficacy though, those serious in battling the disease through exercise need to seek professional advice and guidance.

On the other hand, researchers are baffled by the emerging findings that certain ethnic groups are more vulnerable to any types of diabetes as studies have established that African Americans, Native Americans, Asians and Latinos are more likely to develop the disease. However, experts are quick to remind that this factor remains inconclusive and medical practitioners are still assuming that everyone can be afflicted.

Lastly, pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes would leave a woman later dealing with type two diabetes, according to experts, which should prompt extra care from mothers who are currently pregnant. More alarming are researchersâ contention that delivering babies surpassing the nine pounds mark rapidly increases the possibility of diabetes for women.

The indicators discussed above are not meant to scare off diabetic candidates but rather to prod for active prevention of developing a full-blown case of diabetes. Knowing the ins and outs of the disease is definitely a good start and guarding oneself from it by determining it absence or presence in the body is a step further. Having the condition is not the end of the world as diabetes itself would not kill but its complications. Left unattended, sufferings may be considerable but correct intervention and lifestyle management would mostly reduce the dangers being carried by diabetes.