Changing your Lifestyle can lower your risk for Diabetes

Medical experts are unsure exactly why some people develop diabetes and others don’t. Because there are different forms of diabetes, the medical puzzle is even more complicated. The two most common forms are Type 1 and Type 2. The majority of diabetics (90%) have Type 2 diabetes.

Luckily, some risk factors for diabetes are well-documented and many can be controlled or eliminated. Lifestyle choices play a major part in preventing the disease and people who already have diabetes can control it through lifestyle changes.

Obesity is widely recognized as one of the leading risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes. While there is a genetic influence - some shed or gain weight and body fat more easily than others - it is subject to influence by choices. A high BMI (Body Mass Index) is an adjustable number with the proper diet and exercise. A BMI of higher than 27 correlates with increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. The number should not be taken as a sole determinant, however, since its diagnostic value is less for those who are very muscular or are pregnant. But a high BMI is an indicator of obesity and should be checked.

Body Mass Index should be below 27, since a BMI of 27 or above is positively correlated with a significant increased risk of developing diabetes. People who are extremely muscular and pregnant women may have a BMI this high without being obese. BMI cannot be the sole determinant of obesity, but generally a high BMI does indicate a need for weight loss and people with a high BMI should have appropriate medical evaluation.

Fat storage as well as obesity plays a role in the risk of diabetes. The tendency to store fat around the waist significantly raises the risk of diabetes. Where people store fat is genetically influenced, but fortunately it can still be controlled with diet and exercise.

Exercise certainly burns calories. But even the resting state burns about 70 calories per hour just to power metabolic processes. But regular movement helps stimulate the lymph system, strengthen and loosen muscles, oxygenate tissues and brings with it many other positive benefits. Exercise helps control blood pressure, a factor in contracting diabetes. It helps regulate glucose levels, which have a major role in the disease since excess glucose in the blood is a defining attribute of diabetes. It alters cholesterol levels, another risk factor for contracting the condition.

Exercise and diet are powerful. They can give you significant control over your risk of developing diabetes even if you have several unchangeable risk factors.