Until now, you may not have thought much about diabetes. You probably know people who have type 2 and they seem to be OK. It makes you wonder, "How serious can it be?"
The answer is blunt: Diabetes can be a killer.
Before the development of insulin in 1921, diabetes was always fatal. Today there are many treatments, but people are still dying from the disease.
According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2015 based on the 79,535 death certificates in which diabetes was listed as the underlying cause of death. In 2015, diabetes was mentioned as a cause of death on a total of 252,806 certificates.
While deaths from cancer, heart disease and stroke have declined significantly since 1987, deaths from diabetes increased by 45 percent. And that percentage will grow with each passing year unless individuals begin to take prevention more seriously.
One of the keys to diabetes prevention and treatment is getting a fasting plasma glucose test. This measures your blood glucose after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating.
People who are overweight, don't exercise, and feel tired should see their doctor for a test.
Normal fasting glucose is below 100 mg/dl. A person with pre-diabetes has a level between 100 and 125 mg/dl. If the level is above 126, the person has diabetes.
The good news is that even if your glucose level is high, you can keep from getting type 2 diabetes. But you have to get serious about doing it.
* Get 30 minutes a day of regular exercise. You'll have to do it anyway if you move to type 2, so why not walk or exercise to prevent it?
* Have a better diet. For diagnosed type 2 diabetes (and even for pre-diabetes), a ketogenic diet can help shed pounds while keeping sugar levels low. The diet cuts out foods such as bread, rice, pasta, and many fruits. People on an insulin regimen should be closely monitored by their doctor if they use a ketogenic diet. They might be at risk for developing low blood sugar.
* Lose a few pounds. Exercise and proper diet help, but also look at portion size. Even a 5 percent weight loss makes a difference, but 10 percent reduces type 2 risk by 58 percent.