Destined for Diabetes?
Take this quiz to determine your risk
Type 2 diabetes gets a lot of attention, and it’s easy to see why. More than 29 million Americans have it—their bodies do not use insulin properly, leading to high blood glucose (sugar) and the possibility of significant health problems. And 86 million have elevated blood glucose levels that put them at risk for the disease. Could you be one of them? Take this quiz to find out.
- Are you older than 45? Yes or No
- Are you overweight? Yes or No
- Do you have a family history of diabetes? Yes or No
- Do you have high blood pressure, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol or high triglycerides? Yes or No
- Are you generally inactive? Yes or No
Let’s See How You Did
The more questions you answered “yes,” the higher your risk for type 2 diabetes. Here’s why.
- The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases as you get older. “The incidence peaks in 65- to 74-year-olds,” says Lydia Best, MD, medical director of Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center in Dallas. “The unfortunate fact is that diabetes among the youngest age group more than doubled over the past 30 years.”
- Excess weight is the strongest predictor of diabetes. Nearly 90 percent of people
with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. But there is good news. “It has been well established that a modest 7 percent reduction in weight cuts the five-year progression to diabetes by over 50 percent,” Dr. Best says. For a 175-pound person, that’s about 12 pounds. - Most people with type 2 diabetes have at least one immediate family member with the disease. Race and ethnicity are also factors. “The prevalence of the disease is highest among Native Americans and African-Americans,” Dr. Best says. “Hispanic-Americans and Asian-Americans are also at increased risk.”
- About 4 in 10 people who have high blood pressure have diabetes, too. Diabetes also lowers good cholesterol and raises bad, so if your levels have changed, ask for a blood glucose test. Further, if your levels of triglycerides (the amount of fat in your blood) are high, you’re more likely to have high glucose levels as well.
- An inactive lifestyle, specifically sitting for long periods, is associated with a 91 percent increase in risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The American Diabetes Association recommends getting up and walking at least every 90 minutes.
For a physician referral or to learn more about treating and preventing diabetes at a Baylor Scott & White Health location near you, call 1.844.BSW.DOCS or visit BSWHealth.com/Diabetes.
Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2018 Baylor Scott & White Health
