Approximately 95 percent of those with diabetes have type 2 which is a condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose). Nearly 17 million Americans have it and it is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. Previously associated with people in middle age or older, type 2 is on the increase in children due to the dramatic increase in obesity. It has been estimated that about a third of all children being born today will eventually get diabetes. With these facts in mind, everyone should be aware of the type 2 diabetes risk factors.

Obesity: Being overweight is the number one type 2 diabetes risk factor. the number of people with diabetes who are at some level of obesity is double that found in the population without the disease. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is the standard for determining body weight relative to health for most patients in the age group of 20 to 65 (excluding the highly conditioned such as athletes, or women who are nursing or pregnant.) A Body Mass Index in excess of 27 signals a risk for type 2 diabetes, and other complications such as heart disease, and early death.

Apple-shaped figure: Having an excess of fat above the hips usually means a greater risk factor for type 2 diabetes than for those who have a pear-shaped figure (excess of fat in the thighs and hips). Men with a waist size larger than 39.5 in. (100 cm), and women, 37.5 in. (95 cm) are at increased risk.

Age: This type 2 diabetes risk factor increases with age. Those over 45 are at a greater risk than their younger counterparts and those over 65 are three times as high as people in the 35 to 64 age group.

Sedentary lifestyle: Exercising regularly and keeping your weight under control reduces your chances for getting type 2 diabetes. Those who have the disease should see an improvement in blood sugar levels as well.

Family History: If you have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes you are at increased risk.

History of Diabetes in Pregnancy: Nearly 4 out of every 10 women who have diabetes during pregnancy eventually develop type 2. Usually within the decade following birth.

Impaired Glucose Tolerance: Also referred to as impaired fasting glucose is a type 2 diabetes risk factor that can occur prior to the onset of type 2. While those affected are not considered to have diabetes, their blood sugar is considered to be abnormal placing them at higher risk for heart disease as well as type 2.

Ethnic Ancestry: Those of African, Aboriginal, Asian or Latin American ancestry are at greater risk of having type 2 diabetes.

High Blood Pressure: This risk factor for type 2 diabetes is present in up to to 60 percent of people with undiagnosed diabetes.

High Cholesterol: Among those with diabetes more than 40 percent have abnormally high cholesterol levels.

If you are overweight and have one or more of the other type 2 diabetes risk factors listed above, you should be tested for diabetes now. If you do have it, early diagnosis is critical for minimizing and preventing the serious complications of the disease.

High blood sugar developing during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes. Since this type of diabetes may go undetected because of the lack of obvious symptoms, it is typically found during a screening performed between the 24th and 30th weeks of pregnancy. If gestational diabetes is diagnosed, a diabetes pregnancy diet is in order.

A good, balanced diabetes pregnancy diet is important to maintaining the mother’s health and helping to insure a complication free pregnancy. This diet by itself is usually enough to control blood sugar, but sometimes insulin injection becomes necessary. Being mindful of the total daily calorie intake, avoiding foods that increase blood sugar, and eating more of the foods which aid in the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels are the backbone of a good diabetes pregnancy diet.

The carbohydrates in the food you eat become glucose in your body. Glucose is a major source of energy. Carbohydrates come from starchy foods such as pasta, bread, potatoes, rice, and other grains. They are also found in fruit, dairy foods, vegetables, and sugar. Eating the right balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein is an essential part of the diet.

Women who are pregnant should get about 45 to 60 percent of their calories from carbohydrates, 15 to 25 percent from protein, and 20 to 30 percent from fat. They also require about 300 extra calories daily in the second and third trimesters to ensure proper weight gain. An additional 10 to 12 grams of protein per day is also required to help the baby grow normally.

A registered dietitian is essential to helping you plan your diabetes pregnancy diet. Your doctor can help you locate one and the American Diabetes Association can also assist you in finding one. Coping with pregnancy is burden enough, but finding out that you have gestational diabetes adds an extra load. But it’s important to remember that this form of diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born and the baby is typically not affected by the disease. Just focus on maintaining a healthy blood sugar level, sticking to your diet and following doctor’s orders.

The control of blood sugar cannot be overstressed and the diet is the single most important factor in controlling diabetes while pregnant. With the right diabetes pregnancy diet and a good team of diabetes professionals to assist you in avoiding complications, the disease should not harm the mother or child.

Tell me, did you jump out of bed this morning feeling energetic, revitalized and ready to take on the world? Or did you feel really tired as though you needed more sleep?

How often do you wake up feeling fatigued or really tired? This is the most common and strongest sign of type 2 diabetes. Unexplained fatigue ... you know you haven’t been out partying all night, or working harder than usual. Actually you have been going to bed earlier than you used to, hoping you would not feel so worn out when you first woke up or that you would make if through the day without feeling weary. There are many other signs, but this is one of the earliest signs that you have high blood sugar levels. It can go on for years; you start to accept that this is the way your life is going to be. You wish it would go away but it just stays and affects so many areas of your life.

You feel fatigued or really tired because glucose cannot enter the cells that depend on insulin to act as the transporter of sugar, therefore sugar stays in your bloodstream. Once you blood sugars rise above 180 mg/dl (10 mmol/l), sugar begins to spill over into your urine and that leads to several of the short-term complications of diabetes.

One or more of the following diabetic symptoms may be present along with high blood sugar levels, when you are first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes:

• frequency of passing urine and thirst
• unusual tiredness at times when you shouldn’t be drowsy or tired
• blurred vision or any change in your eyesight
• frequent infections that are slow to heal. Women often have recurring vaginal yeast infections or thrush
• tingling or numbness in hands and feet
• inflamed gums which are caused by high blood sugars affecting the blood vessels in your mouth. The sugar can also be causing teeth cavities

You may also have type 2 diabetes if your health care provider has diagnosed you with:

• high cholesterol levels
• high blood pressure
• anemia
• cataracts

Another classic sign is weight gain. This occurs because insulin in your body is not being used properly. High blood insulin levels increases your appetite.

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition that starts small and becomes worse over time. In the early stages it can be controlled through a healthy eating plan and exercise. The best way to prevent your pancreas from overworking and breaking down completely, is to check with your health care provider when you have any of the above symptoms. He can order fasting blood sugar levels, and/or an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which will confirm or rule out type 2 diabetes.

• a blood sugar level after fasting for eight hours, if over 140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l) on at least two occasions, usually means you have diabetes
• you have diabetes when the OGTT result shows a level equal to or more than 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l)