Reduce Your Diabetes Risk Factor

The best way to lower the risk of developing diabetes is to lose weight.

20:58 10 May 2016

Diabetes is a serious complex condition that you can avoid by simply losing weight.

 

Based on official figures, around 3.8 million adults in the United Kingdom have Type 2 diabetes while another 14 million are at a higher risk of developing the condition due to their high blood sugar levels.

 

For individuals who want to avoid the condition, there are various things that you can do although the most important factor is attaining and maintaining a healthy weight.

 

Having a body mass index above 25 is the single worst risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Being fat or obese prevents our system from properly processing our sugar intake. When blood and insulin levels rise, the body will eventually become insulin resistant. The second risk factor for diabetes is waist size. Men whose waist measures more than 40in are five times more likely to get Type 2 diabetes. 

 

The risk of diabetes also increases when you get the past age of 40 and have sedentary lifestyle. There’s also the genetic factor. If one of your parents has Type 2, your risk increases by 15per cent. If both your parents have it, the risk increases by 75per cent.