Am I at Risk for Diabetes? Ask Yourself These Questions to Determine Risk

The question of “am I at risk for diabetes”can begin to be answered by asking a few questions and understanding some key risk factors, signs and symptoms.

First, are you overweight? If so, you are certainly not alone. Unfortunately, this condition puts you at greater risk for getting type 2 diabetes and the many other health problems related to it. In fact, like millions of other Americans, you might already have the disease and not even know it. The human cost of diabetes alone is devastating: It’s the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Diabetes is sometimes called the “silent killer” because it can slowly harm your body over a long period of time, which can happen without you even realizing it.

Over time, diabetes can lead to many other health problems, including:

• Heart disease
• Nerve problems
• Stroke
• Blindness
• Erectile dysfunction
• Amputation
• Kidney disease
• Gum infections

Other risk factors other than being overweight associated with type 2 diabetes include:

• Older age
• Having been diagnosed with gestational diabetes
• History of diabetes in the family
• Lack of physical activity
• Impaired glucose tolerance
• Native American, African American, or Hispanic heritage

What are the symptoms of diabetes? You might have no signs or symptoms, or your symptoms might be so mild that you don’t notice them, or have some symptoms but not suspect that they are related to diabetes. The following is a list of some of the symptoms you may encounter.

• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Fatigue much of the time
• Increased urination, especially at night
• Weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
• Dry skin
• Increased infections or sores that won’t heal

If you are over 45, you should get tested for diabetes. Diabetes is initially diagnosed with a blood test after you haven’t eaten for eight hours, usually overnight. If your results are high, you and your doctor can start to bring them down through changes in diet and exercise and, if necessary, with the help of medications.

If you are younger than 45, you can still ask to be tested for diabetes. You should make getting tested a priority if you are overweight or obese and have one or more of the risk factors listed above.

Understanding what type 2 diabetes is and whether you are at risk will help you make decisions about your long-term health needs.

Until next time, keep moving, watch your portions and live your life to the fullest!

--Maureen Daniello RN, CDE
Program Coordinator, Diabetes Education
Center for Health & Healing