In the United States, two-thirds of adults are overweight and one-third are obese. Excess weight is a major risk factor for deadly Type 2 diabetes, characterized by high blood glucose and an inability to properly utilize insulin. In fact, 80 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Left untreated and uncontrolled, diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney damage, vision problems, high blood pressure, nervous system disease, and even dementia problems, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
But just as poor lifestyle choices can lead an individual to obesity and Type 2 diabetes, improving diet and health habits can greatly control the disease and its accompanying risk factors.
But awareness is the first step. According to the American Diabetes Association, while 18 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes, another nearly 6 million are undiagnosed. Could you be a walking Type 2 diabetes time bomb?
Check these eight warning signs.
1. Belly fat
Even if you are not technically overweight, excess fat around your middle could indicate diabetes risk after age 50, according to a University of Washington study. Women with waists larger than 30 inches, and men with waists larger than 35 inches, have more fat around their vital organs – kidney, liver, and pancreas – which is known as visceral fat. Beyond diabetes, visceral fat has been linked to heart disease, breast and colorectal cancer, gallbladder problems and more. How do you get rid of it? Exercise daily, cut excess fats and sugar from your diet, and women might want to consider hormone replacement therapy after menopause.
