Are You At Risk for Type-2 Diabetes?

Type-2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, is a health condition in which the body fails to produce enough insulin, a substance that aids in the conversion of glucose (sugar) for energy. That results in an elevated amount of glucose in the blood, which can lead to all sorts of medical complications. Are you at risk? Follow this checklist to see if you fit the profile.

Are You At Risk for Type-2 Diabetes? Follow this checklist to see if you fit the profile:

You are overweight. Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine if you are considered to be clinically overweight. BMI is a calculation based on weight and height that is commonly used to screen people into weight categories that may signify the likelihood that health problems will develop. There are dozens of BMI indexes available on the internet that will give you a quick calculation, but if you’d like to plug it into a calculator at home, the BMI formula is:

Weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703

For adults, a BMI of 18.5 or less is considered underweight, between 18.5 and 24.9 is normal, 25.0 to 29.9 is in the overweight range, and anything above 30 is considered clinically obese.

You are inactive. If it’s been awhile since you’ve gotten regular exercise, you may be at greater risk.

You have high blood pressure. If your doctor has ever told you that you have high blood pressure (also commonly referred to as hypertension), your risk of type-2 diabetes is greater than someone with normal blood pressure levels.

You have a relative or relatives with type-2 diabetes. If you have a mother, father, sister or brother with type 2 diabetes, there is an increased likelihood that you will develop the condition at some point during your lifetime.

You belong to a particular ethnic group. People who are African-American, Latino, Asian American, from the Pacific Islands, or are Native American have a higher incidence of type-2 diabetes.

You are elderly. If you are over the age of 60, your diabetes and pre-diabetes risk is higher than normal.

You have experienced these symptoms. If you feel hungry and/or thirsty all the time, have blurred vision, recently and inexplicably lost weight, have tingling sensations in your feet, feel like you have to urinate all the time, and have sores that take a usually long time to heal, you may be suffering from type-2 diabetes. Make an appointment with your doctor or healthcare professional immediately to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

Information is knowledge; please pass on this information to anyone you feel may be at risk!