1. Know the diabetes risks and know the warning signs
One step in assessing whether you are at risk is looking at whether you belong to one of the defined risk groups. Check the section Am I at risk?
Another way to assess whether you are at risk is by looking at your body weight. Read how to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) and see how healthy you are. Check the section Weight and health.
Know the diabetes warning signs
Am I at risk?
Type 1 diabetes
People with a strong family history of type 1 diabetes are at increased risk. Certain types of blood tests may also identify those at high risk.
Type 2 diabetes
Adults and children who are overweight or obese and are physically inactive
The reason is that weight gain may result in insulin resistance in which the body is unable to use the insulin it produces effectively. At the same time, physical inactivity, both a cause and consequence of weight gain, also contributes to insulin resistance. The problem of obesity and overweight is extending to developing countries, especially in urban areas.
Certain ethnic groups
Ethnicity is an important risk factor with, for example, higher rates of type 2 diabetes reported in
people of Asian and African origin, and in indigenous peoples of the Americas and Australasia.
Individuals with a family history of diabetes
Studies have shown that people who have a strong family history of diabetes, such as in a parent or
sibling, are at high risk of developing diabetes.
Women who have had gestational diabetes mellitus
Women who developed diabetes during pregnancy are at greater risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.
In general, the number of men and women with diabetes is similar until old age (over 65 years) when more women have diabetes.
Weight and health
One place to start looking for warning signs is checking your body and your weight. BMI is a standardised tool for measuring Body Mass Index and it gives you an indication of whether your weight is normal or lower or higher than what is recommended for your height. BMI is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height. By following one of below formulas (depending on which measure unit you use), you can easily calculate your own BMI:
Calculating your BMI:
BMI = mass (kg) / height2 (m2)
BMI = mass (lb) x 703 / height2 (in2)
BMI = mass (lb) x 4.88 / height2 (ft2)
The value of the BMI indicates which category your body weight compared to your height belongs to:
|
Underweight |
Normal |
Overweight |
Pre-obese |
Obese | |
|
BMI value |
<16-18.50 |
18.50-24.99 |
>25 |
25-29.99 |
>30 |
Trials have shown that sustained lifestyle changes in diet and physical activity can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. For example, the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study showed that a better diet, increased physical activity and modest weight loss could substantially reduce the development of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged adults at high risk.
In all the studies conducted so far in people at high risk, lifestyle changes have been substantially more effective than the use of drugs.
Know the diabetes warning signs
Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the most common warning signs of diabetes:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Increased hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Increased fatigue
- Irritability
- Blurry vision
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