Diabetes Risk Factors

March 25th was Diabetes Alert Day. The American Diabetes Association estimates that nearly 7 million people have diabetes and don't know it. Early detection of diabetes is important for preventing complications. Last week, I was working with a gentlemen referred to me for weight loss. He has a family history of diabetes and heart disease, and takes medicine for blood pressure and cholesterol. Because his doctor never tested him for diabetes, we arranged for him to have blood work this week. In the event that he has diabetes, we can start to treat it. Or, if his blood work indicates that he has prediabetes, we can make efforts to prevent it. Perhaps this test will motivate him to make some lifestyle changes that will improve his health. I really hope I can help him to reach his health goals. He just needs to find his motivation: awareness may be the driving force. I encourage all my patients 45 and older with diabetes risk factors to get tested for diabetes.Diabetes Risk Factors originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Sunday, March 30th, 2014 at 18:59:20.Permalink | Comment | Email this
Source: About Diabetes - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news