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• According to the National Diabetes Education Program, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States based on death certificates. Clearly, it is a serious condition and can dangerously affect your health if not managed through a better lifestyle and/or medication. Diabetes can cause complications such as:

• Hypertension

• Blindness and eye problems

• Kidney disease

• Nervous system disease

• Amputations (usually lower-limb)

• Dental disease

• Complications of pregnancy

• Others

Types of Diabetes

• The two major types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2 diabetes, also known as insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent.

Type 1 diabetes is the kind that is not known to be preventable; it is out of your control. Type 2 diabetes is typically seen in overweight people and is viewed as preventable by a healthy diet and exercise. Type 1 is for life, but once you are a type 2 diabetic, can it be reversed?

Are You at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?• According to this list comprised by the

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC), you are at risk for type 2 diabetes if:

• You are age 45 or older.• You are overweight or obese.• You have a parent, brother, or sister with

diabetes.

• Your family background is African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander American.

• You have had gestational diabetes.• You gave birth to at least one baby weighing more than 9

pounds.• Your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, or you have been told

that you have high blood pressure.

• Your cholesterol levels are higher than normal.

• Your HDL, or good, cholesterol is below 35, or your triglyceride level is above 250.

• You are fairly inactive.• You have polycystic ovary

syndrome, also called PCOS.

• On previous testing, you had prediabetes—an A1C level of 5.7 to 6.4 percent, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

• You have other clinical conditions associated with insulin resistance, such as a condition called acanthosisnigricans, characterized by a Dark, velvety rash around the neck or armpits.

• You have a history of cardiovascular disease.The more items applicable to you, the higher your risk of developing

type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes• As listed by the NDIC, symptoms

of Type 2 Diabetes can include:• Increased thirst• Increased hunger• Fatigue• Unexplained weight loss• Blurred vision• Numbness or tingling in the feet

or hands• Sores that do not healSome people do not experience any

symptoms at all and are part of the almost 7 million Americans who do not know they have type 2 diabetes. Others may have the signs and symptoms but do not realize it is related to diabetes.

What Kinds of Life Changes?

• However, there are stories of people with type 2 diabetes who at least get better and achieve lower glucose levels, cholesterol and blood pressure. By making life changes, they sometimes get their diabetes under control and reduce, or even completely go off, their medication. It is hard work, but it can be accomplished.

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