Diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death, and the leading cause of kidney failure, in the United States. Type 2 diabetes makes up nearly 95 percent of diabetes cases. Fortunately, Type 2 diabetes is preventable.
If you’re concerned about your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, talk to your doctor. You can also adopt the following lifestyle changes to help keep this chronic condition at bay:
- Lose weight and keep it off. You may be able to prevent or delay diabetes by losing 5 to 7 percent of your starting weight.
- Move more. Aim to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week. If you haven’t been active, talk with your doctor to find out what a safe exercise plan is for you.
- Eat healthy. A healthy diet is key to keeping chronic conditions like diabetes at bay. Try things like eating smaller portions, staying away from fatty foods and choosing low calorie beverages to reduce the amount of calories you eat each day and help you lose weight .
- Get screened. Go to your doctor for routine diabetes screenings. These screenings will let you know how at-risk you are and will help you determine how to further prevent diabetes.
Live Well – Work Well tips from Employee Plans may be shared with your employees.