Diabetes, a disease that limits your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, is becoming more and more common. More than 10% of people in the U.S. have diabetes, which can lead to heart disease, blindness and amputations.

By far the most common form of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes. Your body can create insulin—the hormone that helps blood sugar get into your cells—but cannot effectively use it. As a result, your blood sugar rises too high, damaging your body.

Diabetes can be scary, but help is available. Our team at AFC Urgent Care Easley can assess your risk for diabetes and find out whether you have diabetes or prediabetes.

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

A combination of inherited and lifestyle factors may lead to a person developing Type 2 diabetes. The most common lifestyle factors include being overweight or inactive.

Most commonly, Type 2 diabetes occurs in adulthood. More and more often, though, adolescents and even some children are developing Type 2 diabetes.

Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes

• Excess weight
• Sedentary behavior
• Family history
• Older age
• Race—Black people, Latinos and Asians are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes
• For women, previous gestational diabetes or polycystic ovarian syndrome

What Is Prediabetes?

Having prediabetes indicates that your blood sugar is approaching diabetic levels. However, you haven’t yet developed diabetes.

If your doctor says you have prediabetes, it can be alarming—but it can also be helpful. Knowing about your condition early can be a great incentive to make changes in your life so you can avoid developing diabetes.

Ways to Lower Your Diabetes Risk

• Lose weight.
• Eat healthy foods, focusing on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Avoid processed foods and sugary drinks.
• Stop smoking.
• Exercise frequently.
• Ask your doctor whether you need to take medicines to lower your blood sugar.
  

Worried about diabetes? Make an AFC TeleCare appointment with our AFC Urgent Care Easley team to get the advice you need from home.