You Might Have Diabetes and Not Know It

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You might have diabetes and not know it. In fact, 8.1 million Americans have diabetes and have not been diagnosed. Plus a staggering 86 million Americans are blind to the fact that they have prediabetes.

In 2016, The World Health Organization declared that World Health Day was dedicated to beating diabetes worldwide. Well, a few years have drifted by and we still have a global diabetes problem. I challenge you to do your part. Learn if you have diabetes or prediabetes. Ask your friends and family to do the same.

Know the risk factors for diabetes

• Overweight
• Physical inactivity
• Family history of diabetes
• Certain ethnicities: African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, Pacific Islander
• Being a women who delivered a baby weighing over 9 pounds or having gestational diabetes
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• High blood pressure
• Low levels of HDL cholesterol
• High levels of triglycerides
• Previous abnormal blood sugar measurement
• History of heart disease
• Acanthosis nigricans (a skin condition characterized by dark, velvety skin in the folds and creases of the body, typically the armpits, neck and groin)

Ask your friends and family about their risks

• Share the American Diabetes Association’s Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test.

Share information about diabetes and prediabetes

• Let your friends and family know that prediabetes is NOT pre-problem. Rather it is a sign that insulin resistance has been going on for some time already. Explain that even though prediabetes is concerning, there are ways to halt the progression to type 2 diabetes. It does not require anything magical or even heroic. Good basic health habits and moderate weight loss for those overweight are the keys to preventing type 2 diabetes.
  • Be physically active most days of the week.
  • Eat wholesome, nutrient-dense foods in reasonable quantities.
  • Cut back on added sugars, saturated fats and overly processed, low-nutrient foods.
  • Work with a registered dietitian nutritionist to create an individualized plan and set personalized behavioral goals.

Should you or someone you care about hear the diagnosis of diabetes, don’t panic. Instead take control. Check out this post about lifestyle changes and medications for diabetes. I answer the question which is better. Work with a registered dietitian nutritionist and a certified diabetes educator to learn about the disease, lead a healthful lifestyle and manage blood sugar, cholesterol levels and blood pressure.