Saturday, April 4, 2009

Is diabetes mellitus preventable


Is diabetes mellitus preventable?
I need help because this is for my health class, and my parents wanna find out about this as well as I!
Diabetes - 4 Answers
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1 :
To put it in short terms , type 2 is preventable. Obesity and inactivity are the causes. What causes diabetes? Health care providers do not yet know what causes diabetes. The following factors may increase your chance of getting diabetes: Family history of diabetes African-American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian-American race or ethnic background Being overweight Age (Chances increase with age) Taking certain medicines Being pregnant* *Pregnancy puts extra stress on a woman's body that causes some women to develop diabetes. Blood sugar levels often return to normal after childbirth. Yet, women who get diabetes during pregnancy have an increased chance of developing diabetes later in life. Kitty
2 :
No, diabetes is NOT preventable. Obesity does NOT cause diabetics, it INCREASES YOUR RISK of getting Type 2. You can LOWER your chances of getting type 2 by eating healthy and exercising, but you can not prevent it. The more RISK FACTORS you have the more likely you are to get it. Diabetes type 2 is more hereditary. Type 1 is normally is auto-immune and there is nothing you can do about that it. No one is 100% positive what cause either type of diabetes. Here is a article from Webmd. Type I There are several factors that can give a person a higher tendency with developing type I diabetes: hereditary factors, immune factors, and “triggering” factors such as stress or viruses. If both parents have type I diabetes the risk for developing it is less than 50%. If an identical twin develops type I diabetes the risk for the other person developing it is less than 50%. Some infections have been shown to trigger type I diabetes, one of which is Coxsackie B. Studies have shown that 20% of babies born with German measles will develop type I diabetes. Also, in studies some toxins can trigger this type of diabetes. For example a study showed that after eating tainted meat some people developed type I diabetes because the meat had a chemical toxin that destroyed beta cells. Type II There is a very strong heredity factor in developing type II diabetes. If an identical twin has type II diabetes the chance that the other twin will also develop it is 95%. Certain ethnic groups, such as Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans have a stronger tendency in developing type II diabetes possibly because of their diet or environmental factors. Obesity is a very large factor in developing type II diabetes. When a person is obese, the body has a harder time using the insulin. Usually, though, if a person has not inherited a tendency for type II and they become obese their body accommodates more easily and they will not develop it. But, if the person inherits a tendency for type II they have a very high risk of developing it if they become obese. Here is a little bit more concerning Type 2: Type 2 diabetes is believed to have a strong genetic link, meaning that it tends to run in families. Several genes are being studied that may be related to the cause of type 2 diabetes. With a proper diabetes diet and healthy lifestyle habits, along with diabetes medication, if necessary, you can manage your type 2 diabetes just like you manage other areas of your life. Be sure to continue seeking the latest information on type 2 diabetes as you become your own health advocate. Other TYPE 2 RISK FACTORS (NOT CAUSES) include the following: High blood pressure High blood triglyceride (fat) levels Gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds High-fat diet High alcohol intake Sedentary lifestyle Obesity or being overweight Ethnicity: Certain groups, such as African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Japanese Americans, have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. Aging: Increasing age is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes begins to rise significantly at about age 45 years, and rises considerably after age 65 years. So you would have slightly higher chance of getting diabetes based on family history over someone who does not have a family history of diabetes. Also if you have any of the RISK FACTORS that will also increase your chances of becoming diabetic.
3 :
No you cannot prevent diabetes per say. However you can make lifestyle changes or adjustments to lower your risk of developing it. Its simply about increasing or decreasing your risk factors. Diabetes can happen to any person, age, race, weight, family history, health, etc.... Although it tends to be associated with genetics and obesity (to sum it up) it can also strike without rhyme or reason - as in my case. I was a perfectly healthy, active and slim 16 year old with no family history when I developed Type 1 diabetes. For example, even though Type 2 tends to occur most with obesity, you could be fit and fab all your life and still develop it. A healthier lifestyle, such as proper diet and exercise, will decrease your risk factor, but not prevent it.
4 :
It seems hard to prevent it because one of the factors for having this condition is by inheriting it from your family. This is the most common cause for this type of diabetes although obesity and pregnancy can also be causes. It may be hard to prevent but you can definitely control it with proper diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle habits.






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Posted by Diabetes Melitus at 9:36 AM