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Reducing your diabetes risk may be as simple as trying a few cooking substitutions or swimming a few laps each day. But before you change up your diet or start a new exercise regimen, know the facts about diabetes. THE POWER OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES While there is no way to prevent Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes may be prevented through consultation with your physician about risk factors, including age, race and family history, and attention to other risks, such as unhealthy weight and inactivity. If you have prediabetes, you should be screened for Type 2 diabetes every one to two years. This screening includes checking your fasting blood glucose and A1c levels, which measure average blood glucose over a period of two to three months prior to your screening. Knowing your levels can be crucial to preventing Type 2 diabetes. If your physician is concerned about your numbers, there are steps you can take toward prevention, chief among them a balanced, nutritional diet and regular physical exercise. Other behaviors that could be modifi ed to reduce risk of developing Type 2 diabetes include quitting smoking, reducing stress and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. According to the International Diabetes Federation, exercising for 30 minutes each day may reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes by approximately 40 percent. Diagnosis, Not Defi nition Learning you have diabetes signals a change in lifestyle, but don't worry — you're still in control of your own destiny. There are three major types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, which is sometimes called juvenile diabetes, affects both children and adults when the pancreas does not produce insulin. While the cause of this issue in the pancreas is unknown, it is believed that environmental factors can contribute to the immune system attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Treatment for Type 1 diabetes includes injections or an implanted pump to provide insulin needed daily. Type 2 diabetes can strike people of any age and is a chronic disease that occurs when the body does not use insulin properly. A sign of Type 2 diabetes is high blood glucose levels, also known as blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed in individuals who are overweight or obese. Prediabetes occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than average but are not yet high enough to diagnose Type 2 diabetes. This condition affects approximately 86 million American adults and frequently develops into Type 2 diabetes. The good news is that if you are diagnosed with prediabetes, you may drastically reduce your Type 2 diabetes risk simply by losing 5 to 7 percent of your current weight. A Diabetes Primer ! 4 christussantarosa.org