Type 2 diabetes can be prevented through a proper diet, exercise, and cutting out certain activities that create risk factors. If you are already at risk for diabetes due to a family history, or even your current health problems, taking proactive steps to prevent it is crucial. By taking care of yourself, you can minimize your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. How?
Prevent Diabetes with the Proper Diet
Much of what you can do to prevent diabetes is to eat a healthier diet. Eating a healthy diet can help to manage your weight, as obesity is a strong risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes. Your diet should be low in salt, and both saturated and trans fats. Try adding more fiber to your diet as well, as it helps to manage your blood glucose levels. Limiting your consumption of processed foods as well as fast foods can help prevent Type 2 diabetes,as they are often loaded with salt and fat that can increase your risk for developing diabetes.
Stay Active
We’ve already mentioned that managing your weight is important in preventing diabetes. One way to do that is by staying active. However, regular exercise doesn’t just help you manage your weight. It can help reduce cholesterol, which also helps to prevent cardiovascular disease, and it can improve both blood glucose as blood pressure, which is vital to preventing both diabetes and cardiovascular problems. With so many benefits from staying active and exercising regularly, it’s hard to find a reason not to do it, especially if it can help you manage risks for diabetes.
Limit Certain Activities
While you want to change your diet and add to your exercise routine, you also want to limit certain things. If you regularly drink alcohol, you might be at risk for diabetes, as alcohol has a high sugar content and can disrupt regular blood glucose levels. Smoking is also a risk factor, especially if you are a long-time smoker. If you want to prevent Type 2 diabetes, these activities should be limited. If you can cut them out altogether, it helps even more.
The Internal Medicine Diagnostic Center is here to help you get on the right track to help prevent Type 2 diabetes. Stop in or call for an appointment and one of our providers can help you make a plan to tackle your diabetes risk factors. Having a medical professional on your side can help greatly when it comes to making a plan to reduce Type 2 diabetes risk factors.