Who is at Risk of getting Diabetes?

The risk of diabetes increases:

  • As we get older (more than 10% of people over 65 years of age have diabetes).
  • If there is someone else in your family with diabetes ( that is your mum, dad, brother or sister)
  • If you are overweight and inactive.
  • If you have had diabetes during a pregnancy.
  • If you have high blood pressure.
  • If you have high cholesterol levels
  • If you have had a heart attack or a stroke
  • If you are Asian or Afro-Caribbean.

If you are at risk of getting diabetes – don’t panic. For many who are at risk there is some good news. Diabetes can be prevented if you act early.

The Diabetes Prevention Program was a large study in the USA which looked at over 3,000 people who were at high risk of developing diabetes. This research showed quite clearly that by following a careful diet and exercise programme that it was possible to delay the arrival of diabetes or even prevent it altogether. Only a very modest weight loss was needed to see real benefit and the benefit was quite amazing – a 58% reduction in the risk of getting diabetes. Well worth putting in a bit of effort now if you are at risk.

So if you are at risk here is what you need to do to reduce your risk:

  • Maintain an active lifestyle. Walk more. Take the stairs and not the lift.
  • Take regular exercise if you can.
  • Reduce your intake of calories and fat
  • Check what your ideal body weight should be and aim to reach it.
  • Avoid smoking
  • Get your cholesterol and blood pressure checked

If you think you are at risk of diabetes discuss this with your GP or Practice Nurse. They may suggest that you have a blood test every year to check for diabetes.