Are you at risk for developing diabetes?

The risk factors for type 1 diabetes are still being researched. However, having a family member with type 1 diabetes slightly increases the risk of developing the disease.

Several risk factors have been associated with type 2 diabetes and include:

1. Family history of diabetes: Increase risk if a parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes
2. Overweight: Excess fatty tissue cause leads to insulin resistance.
3. Unhealthy diet
4. Physical inactivity: Physical activity helps to control weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes cells more sensitive to insulin.
5. Increasing age
6. High blood pressure
7. Ethnicity: People of certain races — including blacks, Hispanics, American Indians and Asians — are at higher risk
8. Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT)*
9. History of gestational diabetes
10. Poor nutrition during pregnancy

*Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) is a category of higher than normal blood glucose, but below the threshold for diagnosing diabetes.

                                                                                       

Are you at risk for Stroke or Brain Attack ?

RISK FACTORS FOR STROKE

Many factors increase the risk for stroke. Some factors can be controlled, while others cannot

• Strokes are four to six times more likely in people with high blood pressure.
• People with high cholesterol are at double the risk of having a stroke.
• Strokes are six times more likely to occur in people with heart disease.
• Excess weight can lead to heart disease and high cholesterol, which can lead to a stroke.
• Heavy drinking increases the risk for stroke.
• Smokers have double the risk for stroke as nonsmokers.

STROKE PREVENTION

Healthy diet, exercise, controlling blood pressure and not smoking are cornerstones of stroke prevention

• Control your blood pressure.
• Find out if you have heart disease, especially an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation.
• Don’t smoke.
• Find out if you have a diseased carotid artery
• Lower your cholesterol.
• Limit your alcohol intake.
• Control your weight.
• If you have diabetes, manage the disease.