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Type 2 Diabetes:
Reduce Your Risk Now

The odds of developing type 2 diabetes are determined partly by genes and partly by lifestyle. Making healthy choices now may help prevent the disease later in life.

Many experts believe people may be able to prevent type 2 diabetes by controlling their weight and exercising regularly.

Eating certain foods and avoiding others also may help. Women who consumed a lot of fiber from cereals and avoided starchy carbohydrates—such as white bread, french fries, and cooked potatoes— cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than half.

What’s Your Risk?

People with a family history of diabetes need to be particularly cautious. Other risk factors include:

• age—about half of all cases occur in people age 55 and older
• being African-American, Hispanic- American, Asian, Pacific Islander, or Native American
• excess weight
• an inactive lifestyle
• a personal history of gestational diabetes.

The Importance of Screening

Early symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

• excessive thirst and frequent urination
• weight loss, fatigue, and drowsiness
• frequent skin, gum, bladder, or vaginal infections
• slow healing of cuts and bruises
• blurred vision
• numb hands or feet.

If detected, diabetes usually can be controlled. Some people can keep the disease in check by losing weight and exercising regularly—the same healthy measures that help prevent the disease. Others may need insulin and/or other medications.