10 RiversideHealthcare.org We all live with risks to our health, and we do what we can to lower them. But there is a serious health risk that we need to take steps to prevent and that many of us overlook: type 2 diabetes. This form of diabetes has the potential to hurt our bodies from head to toe. If not well controlled, type 2 diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, eye and foot problems, and more. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent or delay this most common type of diabetes. Nancy Peeler, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist at the Riverside Diabetes Wellness Center, shares important information about diabetes and ways to help keep the disease at bay. Who is at risk? Common risk factors for type 2 diabetes include: ● Being overweight or obese. ● Being 45 years old or over. ● Having a family history of diabetes. ● Being African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Nancy Peeler, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. In all cases, the body’s insulin production becomes imbalanced. For example, a person with type 1 is void of insulin and requires injections to survive. Those with type 2 still have some insulin but not enough to get by. They may require medication but also can manage diabetes with exercise, eating well and reducing stress. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. “Typically, a woman produces three to six times as much insulin during pregnancy. If she can’t, then her blood sugar goes up and she gets diabetes,” explains Nancy Peeler, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. “After the baby is born, those hormones go down, blood sugar goes down and the diabetes goes away.” What are the different types of diabetes? TYPE 2 DIABETES Act now to lower your risk
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