Every Adult over 45 Should Be Tested for Type 2 Diabetes - East Idaho News

Every Adult over 45 Should Be Tested for Type 2 Diabetes

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Getty 101514 DiabetesTest?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1413391540159iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Nobody wants to learn that they have type 2 diabetes, which means the pancreas can’t make enough insulin to keep the body’s cells functioning properly. However, by knowing that you do have the condition, it can be managed through medication and lifestyle changes.

As a result, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is recommending that every adult over the age of 45 should be tested for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. The test is also particularly urged for people at a higher risk for diabetes, including those with a family history of the disease, obese people and those who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Meanwhile, those with prediabetes can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by nearly 50 percent through a proper diet and exercise.

The blood sugar test is reportedly simple and inexpensive.


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