Type two diabetes is a long-term metabolic disorder that, without treatment, can lead to serious complications. Yet many men and women may unknowingly live with the condition for a decade or more, as symptoms can remain hidden.
Diabetes UK has encouraged people to assess their personal risk by monitoring key health indicators that may heighten their susceptibility to the disease – including waist size, blood pressure and body weight. While these three factors can signal elevated risk, they’re often reversible through straightforward adjustments to daily habits in most instances.
Waist measurement
Whilst type two diabetes is commonly linked to excess body weight, the condition can affect individuals with normal or even low BMIs. According to Diabetes UK specialists, abdominal fat accumulation poses a significant red flag, irrespective of overall weight.
They stated: “Carrying extra weight around your middle means fat can build up around organs, like your liver and pancreas. This can cause something called insulin resistance as the insulin can’t get through the fat.”
Healthy waist measurements are less than:
- 80cm (31.5in) for all women
- 94cm (37in) for most men
- 90cm (35in) for South Asian men
Measurements exceeding these thresholds suggest an increased diabetes risk. For those concerned about their waist size, specialists recommend boosting physical activity and adopting a balanced diet to trim down.
Blood pressure
High blood pressure seldom produces noticeable symptoms, yet it significantly raises the likelihood of developing serious health conditions ranging from heart disease to diabetes. Those living with diabetes face an elevated risk of hypertension as well.
Your diet plays a crucial role in controlling blood pressure levels. Cutting back on salt, alcohol and caffeine intake can help reduce these readings. Additional lifestyle elements affecting blood pressure include tobacco use, stress levels and carrying excess weight.
Blood pressure checks are widely available at most chemists, doctors’ surgeries and certain workplaces. Some people might also consider purchasing home monitoring devices for regular checks.
Weight
Diabetes UK explains: “Living with overweight or obesity alone doesn’t cause type 2 diabetes as many people think, but it is one of the factors that can increase your risk. This misunderstanding leads to unfair judgment and shame (stigma) which stops people going to healthcare appointments to get the help they need to help them lower their risk of type 2 diabetes.”
The NHS provides an online BMI calculator to determine whether you fall into the overweight or obese categories. Using this resource requires measuring both your height and weight. Based on your results, the calculator will also provide guidance on appropriate weight management strategies.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
