Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus - Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the disease?
The best way to prevent type 2 diabetes is through modest lifestyle changes. These changes can be helpful to almost any person's health, but if a person has been diagnosed with prediabetes, lifestyle changes are essential. The key is to:
The Disease Prevention Program, a federally funded study, demonstrated the effect of lifestyle changes on a person's risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Participants in the study exercised moderately for 150 minutes a week. Most of them chose to walk briskly for 30 minutes, 5 days a week. They also ate a reduced-fat diet with large amounts of vegetables. The weight loss goal was 7%, or 14 pounds for a person weighing 200 pounds. With these changes, the individuals lowered their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%.
What are the long-term effects of the disease?
Over time, high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels, nerves, and other internal structures. Long-term effects of diabetes may include:
Coma or death may occur as a result of diabetic ketoacidosis. In addition, smoking greatly increases the risk of getting many of these long-term effects. People with diabetes who smoke are a much higher risk for heart attacks, strokes, infections, and problems with circulation.
What are the risks to others?
Type 2 diabetes is not catching and poses no risk to others. It does tend to run in families.