Are You At Risk For Diabetes?

Diabetes is a malfunction of the Langehans Glands, situated in the Pancreas, to produce Insulin. Insulin enables the body to dissolve the sugar into energy for the muscles. So the sugar stays in the blood. That causes the body tissues to get tender and they start deteriorating faster than normal.

TYPE I DIABETES – usually occurs in children and young adults, but can develop at any age. People with type I need insulin every day.

TYPE II DIABETES – usually occurs in adults who overweight, are in their middle or later years, and have family members with diabetes. Many people can control this type with diet, weight loss, and exercise. Some will also need diabetes pills or insulin.

To take care of type I or type II diabetes, a person needs to eat healthy foods, exercise, take medicine if it is prescribed, and see a doctor on a regular basis.

Without diagnosis and treatment, diabetes may result in long-term complications, such as blindness, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or amputation.

A normal blood sugar range is considered to be 80-120 mg/dl Please consult your doctor if you suspect that you may have diabetes. Click here for symptoms.

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Consider these factors to determine your risk level:
Age
(The risk grows with age)

Weight
Underweight ~ Average Weight ~ Overweight ~ Obese
(The risk is higher if you are overweight. In some cases loosing weight has caused a considerable decrease in blood sugar levels)

Exercise
Totally Inactive ~ Occasionally Exercise ~ Regularly 3 times a week or more (The risk is greater for people who do not exercise, you should start very easy, if you have been inactive)

Descent
African ~ European ~ Indian/S.E.Asian ~ Asian ~ Hispanic (African and Hispanic descent increases the risk)

Diabetes In Family
None ~ Parent ~ Sibling ~ Other relative (Diabetes can be genetic, to some degree)

Blood Glucose Meter

Are You At Risk For Diabetes?