Diabetes is sometimes referred to as the “silent killer” because it can progress slowly and without warning. It is a common condition worldwide, but because the symptoms may present slowly or not at all, many people are not aware they have it. Once they are diagnosed, patients may still not be concerned about the disease because their symptoms are mild; however, hyperglycemia, or high levels of blood sugar, damages the blood vessels in the kidneys, heart, eyes and nervous system leading to heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, kidney failure, and blindness.
Since it is often difficult to recognize the symptoms, it is important to know the risk factors.
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes
- Overweight or obese
- Age 45 or older
- Family history of diabetes
- High blood pressure
- History of gestational diabetes
- Gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
- History of stroke
- Diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Not physically active
- Depression
- Low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides
- Ethnicity: African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
You can’t change risk factors such as family history, ethnicity, or age; but your risk of developing type 2 diabetes depends on a combination of risk factors, and you can reduce your risk by changing lifestyle risk factors such as weight, diet and physical activity.
Four things you can start doing today to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes:
- Change your diet
- Remove sugar and refined carbohydrates
- Drink water as your primary beverage
- Eat a diet high in fiber
- Control your portions
- Minimize the amount of processed foods you eat
- Eat a small amount every 3-4 hours to avoid getting really hungry
- Exercise regularly
- Quit smoking
- Reduce your sedentary activities and try to stand and walk every hour
If you or someone you love have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it is important to seek treatment early before severe systemic damage has occurred. Stem cell therapy, at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute, may help patients with diabetes that are not responding adequately to standard drug treatment, are newly diagnosed and would like to try stem cell therapy before initiating drug treatment, or would like to reduce the symptoms associated with diabetes.
The regenerative experts at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute, in Costa Rica, are committed to providing personalized service and the highest quality of care to every patient. Contact us today to learn more about the potential benefits of stem cell therapy.
