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Diabetes does not discriminate with age. Though adults aged 45–64 receive the majority of new diabetes diagnoses in the U.S., the country has also seen increases in disease prevalence among those 18-44. Joining us today with more is Chief Medical Officer at Signify Health, Dr. Heidi Schwarzwald. Diabetes is diabolical and should be a focus of concern in our country. “Even more concerning is that nearly 90% of those who have prediabetes, and thus have an increased risk of developing the disease, aren’t aware they have it” says Dr. Schwarzwald.
One of the top risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes is race and ethnicity. Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased mortality in ethnically diverse populations, specifically Hispanics and African Americans. Both Hispanic and African American adults are 60% more likely than non-Hispanic and non-African American white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes by a physician, with both populations being more likely to die or be hospitalized for the treatment of end-stage renal disease related to diabetes. For these reasons and more, it’s critical that you know your risk factors and know your numbers, including your average blood sugar levels, known as A1C. It’s also important to kickstart lifestyle changes that prioritize physical activity and prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. Modifications such as modest weight reduction (5-10% of baseline weight) and increased physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week can reduce the incidence of diabetes by more than 50%. She adds "it is recommended to start getting screened for prediabetes at age 35, especially if you have any of the above risk factors increasing your probability of developing diabetes from ages 40-55." Diabetes knows no boundaries, impacting individuals across all age groups and ethnicities. The best step you can take to mitigate your risk from diabetes is to know your numbers. For more information and to sign up for an in house evaluation with Signfy Health visit Hellosignify.com or Holasignify.com.