8 Healthy You: a guide to well-being


Incorporating regular exercise as part of an overall healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.


may be as influential as prevention. Preventive measures to reduce one’s


risk for various diseases can have a long-lasting effect, helping people maintain their independencewell into their golden years. In addition, a proactive approach that focuses on disease prevention can improve the chances men and women will get to spend their retirement years doing whatever they please. One disease that can be especially


limiting is type 2 diabetes. According to theNational Institute onDiabetes andDigestive KidneyDiseases, diabetes occurs when blood glucose levels are too high. Blood glucose, sometimes referred to as “blood sugar,” comes fromthe foods a person eats and is the main source of energy for his or her body. Insulin helps glucose fromfood get into the body’s


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healthy lifestyle can help people live life to the fullest. There are many components to a healthy lifestyle, and few


cells so they can use it for energy. However, in certain instances, such as when a person has type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough—or any—insulin.When that occurs, glucose stays in the blood, never reaching the cells it’s supposed to help. TheNIDDK notes that, over time, excessive levels of glucose in the blood can cause a host of health problems. Type 2 diabetes, themost common


formof the disease, occurs when the body does not make or use insulin well.While it might seem as though people are helpless to stop this from occurring, theNIDDK notes that type 2 diabetes can be delayed or even prevented. In fact, theNIDDK cites three key ways that people can lower their risk for type 2 diabetes. • Loseweight and keep extra


pounds off. People should speak with their physicians about their body weights to determine if they’re currently overweight or obese or maintaining healthyweights. If the doctor suggests losingweight, doing so can help prevent or delay diabetes. Each individual is different, but the


NIDDK notes that losing between 5 and 7 per cent of your startingweight may help delay or prevent diabetes. • Become more physically active.


TheNIDDK lists a sedentary lifestyle among the many factors that can increase a person’s risk for type 2 diabetes. By embracing physical activity, getting at least 30 minutes of exercise five days perweek, people can delay or prevent diabetes. People who have been physically inactive for a long period of time should ask their physicians to recommend appropriate activities that can help their bodies adjust to being physically active. • Eat less and eat healthy. A diet


that’s high in vitamins and nutrients can help people delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. Small portions can help people control their caloric intake, reducing the likelihood that they will become overweight or obese. Prevention is a great way for people


to reduce their risk for type 2 diabetes, a potentially debilitating yet often preventable disease. often preventable disease.


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