We must remember that prevention is more essential than treatment during Gulf Diabetes Awareness Week, so today we will highlight diabetes risk factors. Indeed, some factors cannot be prevented, but some of them can be avoided with some simple steps, and greatly protect you from being diabetic.

What are the different types of Diabetes?

It is important to know the types of diabetes at the beginning because the factors that increase the risk of developing vary according to its type! Types of diabetes mellitus:

• Diabetes type 1
• Diabetes type 2
• Gestational Diabetes

What are diabetes risk factors?

As we know, the factors differ according to the type, for example:

Type 1 diabetes

Risk factors for type 1 diabetes include:

• Having a family history – a parent or sibling – of type 1 diabetes.
• Pancreas injury, whether due to infection, tumor, surgery or accidents.
• The autoantibodies, which mistakenly attack the body’s organs.
• Physical stress such as surgery or illness.

Diabetes type 2

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes such as:

• Family history of type 2 diabetes.
• Overweight and obesity.
• High blood pressure. Untreated high blood pressure has been linked to complications of diabetes.
• Low level of good cholesterol and high level of triglycerides.
• Lack of exercise, because physical inactivity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but it can be modified.
• Having gestational diabetes or having a baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
• Incidence of polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Smoking.
• Sleeping for short or long periods; Too little or too much sleep is associated with elevated glycemic indexes in people with type 2 diabetes.
• Stress.
• Diet.
• Drinking alcohol because excessive use of alcohol can cause inflammation in the pancreas and limit its ability to produce enough insulin.

Gestational diabetes

Risk factors for gestational diabetes include:

• Family history of type 2 diabetes.
• Being overweight or obese before pregnancy.
• You must be over 25 years old.

How to prevent diabetes type 2

Controlling the diabetes risk factors will definitely help you prevent disease type 2. for example:

• Losing 5% to 10% of your body weight and engaging in regular physical activity can significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetes. The BMI calculator will help you find out if you are at a healthy weight or if you are overweight.
• Regular exercise or physical activity helps reduce insulin resistance. Walking briskly for 30 minutes at least five days a week has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
• Maintaining blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels at the normal level determined by the doctor.
• Quit Smoking.
• Eating healthy foods in the right quantities is very important. Include healthy foods in your diet such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, skinless poultry, fish, legumes, nuts and unsalted seeds.
• Limit the intake of alcoholic beverages.

Adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.