Por Salud Scripps | A tu salud<\/p>\n
Millions of American women are living with type 2 diabetes, and millions more are at risk of developing it.<\/p>\n
The number of new cases will continue to rise along with obesity rates \u2014 one of the major risk factors \u2014 unless more women adopt healthier habits, which should include a healthy diet and regular exercise.<\/p>\n
Here are five ways you can control and even prevent type 2 diabetes:<\/p>\n
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes include excessive thirst, unexplained fatigue, frequent urination and blurred vision. Keep in mind, however, that many women don\u2019t experience these warning signs or confuse them with another condition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is why so many women don\u2019t even realize they have type 2 diabetes until they go to the doctor with a complication of the disease, such as neuropathy,\u201d said Dr. Athena Philis-Tsimikas<\/a>, corporate vice president of the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n The major risk factors for type 2 diabetes are heredity and obesity, but hypothyroidism, steroid therapies and some medications may increase risk. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 60 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Risk also increases with aging.<\/p>\n Type 2 diabetes can be especially difficult for perimenopausal and menopausal women. Hormonal fluctuations make it more difficult to control blood sugar; elevated blood sugar makes it easier to pick up infections, especially yeast infections. Hormone shifts can increase food cravings, leading to indulgences women living with diabetes should avoid.<\/p>\n A blood glucose screening is recommended for overweight women who have one or more additional risk factors, such as a family history of diabetes.<\/p>\n \u201cWomen without risk factors should be tested at age 45, with follow-up tests every three years to be sure blood sugar levels are in a safe range,\u201d said Dr. Tsimikas.<\/p>\nRisk factors<\/strong><\/h3>\n
When to be screened<\/strong><\/h3>\n