Type II Diabetes affects more than 50 million Americans. What used to be considered an adult disease is now seen in nearly 1 in every 500 children. Type II Diabetes assumes the same medical risks as Type I or Juvenile Diabetes except for one alarming fact—Type II Diabetes is a preventable disease.
A high number of our population, including children, is consuming a high calorie-dense diet with no real nutrient value. Add in little to no exercise and you have a perfect combination that leads to overweight and obesity, and more specifically abdominal obesity, which drives the development of Type II Diabetes.
Carrying excessive body weight can not only put you at high-risk for developing Type II Diabetes, but also puts you at great risk for developing complications from the disease such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney failure, stoke and blindness. People with Type II Diabetes have a much greater chance of suffering a heart attack, the leading cause of death in America, than those without diabetes.
Signs or symptoms of diabetes can include increased thirst, hunger and urination; however, many people have no symptoms before they are diagnosed. The best way to prevent Type II Diabetes is by maintaining a healthy diet high in fruits in vegetables, low in carbohydrates and low in fat and animal fat; regular exercise, and decreasing your abdominal girth.
Once a person is diagnosed with diabetes, he or she will always have the condition. Treatment includes a modified diet and exercise plan. Prescription medication may be prescribed in combination with a healthier lifestyle.
If you think you have diabetes, contact your primary health care physician. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with Type I or Type II Diabetes your physician can help you find health resources such as a diabetic educator, dietician and exercise specialist to help you get on the right path to a healthy future.