A little over a week ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced statistics that show as many as 1 in 3 U.S. adults could have diabetes by 2050 if current trends continue.
The report predicts that the number of new diabetes cases each year will increase from 8 per 1,000 people in 2008, to 15 per 1,000 in 2050.
One of the main factors behind the projected increase in cases is an aging population susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes.
How to prevent type 2 diabetes
Proper diet and exercise can help prevent diabetes, and also help control the condition for those who already have it.
Dr. Judith Fradkin, Director of Diabetes Division at NIH, told a news station that an NIH study showed that just losing 15 pounds can reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes over the next three years by 58 percent. Check out the video with the interview below.
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include older age, obesity, family history, having diabetes while pregnant, a sedentary lifestyle.
Certain racial/ethnic groups also more commonly develop type 2 diabetes, according to the CD, identifying the groups as African-Americans, Hispanics, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and some Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders.
A Diabetes Prevention Program clinical trial, led by the National Institutes of Health, reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent in people at higher risk of the disease.
While these types of government programs show promise, they also show the need for personal preventative action.
More info
You can read the full press release from the CDC here: http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2010/r101022.html
For more information about diabetes, you can visit www.cdc.gov/diabetes or the National Diabetes Education Program at www.yourdiabetesinfo.org. For a full copy of the CDC report, visit http://www.pophealthmetrics.com/content/8/1/29.