Written by Rebecca Budde, SIU School of Medicine
Nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, but approximately 25% of them don’t know they have it. By 2050, researchers predict that 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which a person’s body does not produce or properly process sugar. Sara Lopinski, SIU registered dietitian, says two groups of individuals are at risk for diabetes: Americans and individuals who sit at a desk most of the day, don’t get much exercise and don’t eat a healthy diet.
The prevalence of diabetes in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. The typical high-calorie, low-exercise American lifestyle has become a driving factor in this unfortunate health crisis. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness and a number of other life-threatening medical complications.
Find out if you’re at risk for developing type 2 diabetes by taking a quick Diabetes Risk Test here. After answering some simple questions about weight, age, family history and other potential risk factors, you’ll receive your score. If you are at a high risk for diabetes, you can minimize your chances of developing the disease by exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking and eating healthy.
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