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Diabetes is like the film that was "years in the making"-it takes literally years for Diabetes to develop. If you know what to look for you can see it coming and actually prevent it all together. If you don't see it coming until you have it-it is too late.

The risk factors are as obvious as the nose on your face. Here's how you can overcome some of them and possibly avoid this terrible disease

The risk factors for Diabetes basically fall into two basic categories: Controllable and Uncontrollable. Most of them are interrelated.

The CONTROLLABLE risk factors are:

WEIGHT. Too much body fat particularly around the mid section. As we get older our metabolism slows down making it more difficult to maintain/lose weight. Unless you have been under a rock somewhere you probably have heard about the growing obesity problem in America.

SMOKING. Smoking makes it more difficult to get your blood sugar under control. Smoking has all sorts of other associated risks as well.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. A direct result of being overweight and a risk factor for other serious diseases.

HIGH CHOLESTEROL. A direct result of diet and indirectly weight.

INACTIVITY. A by product of weight. As you get older your energy level declines leading to inactivity and weight gain.

DEPRESSION. People who are depressed often are inactive and gain weight.

Some UNCONTROLLABLE risk factors are:

FAMILY HISTORY. If mom or pop had it your chances of getting it are pretty good.

ECONOMIC STATUS. There is a growing amount of scientific evidence that relates income levels to diet which relates directly to obesity. I have had a gut feeling that obesity is more a problem of the poor than the well to do. These studies seem to bear this out. In other words, poorer folks don't eat as well which leads to obesity.

AGE. If you are over 50 you are more likely to get type 2 diabetes. Guess why? After 50 your metabolism slows down, you're less active, etc. You are more likely to gain weight and on and on.

Are you starting to see a theme here? As my doc used to say "it is all about the weight." Lose weight and your blood pressure goes down, your cholesterol is lowered, you will probably be exercising making you sleep better and a happier person. What's not to like with that?

Plus you will lower the major risk factors for a disease you do not want. What are you waiting for?