Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes? Don't 'wait and watch'
There are several diseases that doctors say can -- maybe -- be safely tracked using active surveillance, allowing folks to postpone treatment. These include some forms of prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, an enlarged prostate, and maybe gallstones. Type 2 diabetes definitely is not one of these maybes.
When you are diagnosed, the smart move is to take immediate and aggressive steps to reverse or control the disease. New research in Diabetes Care identifies 17 complications, including heart attacks, kidney failure, amputations, neuropathy, vision problems, depression and dementia, that folks with Type 2 diabetes develop in an average of 15 years after diagnosis. And it reveals the best way to avoid the pain and loss of function they cause is to get your blood glucose levels, weight, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure under control -- pronto!
One important study found that losing just 10% of your body weight can reverse insulin resistance (which kickstarts Type 2 diabetes). And the 12-month DIRECT study found that 86% of participants who lost 33 pounds or more achieved diabetes remission. Add to that good news the fact that lowering your A1C by 1% can reduce the risk of retinopathy by 35%.
So don't "wait and watch." If you have an A1C level of 6.5% or higher, a fasting plasma glucose level of 126 mg/dL or more, or a two-hour plasma glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher during a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test, act now! For support, info and cool tricks, check out my book "This is Your Do-Over."
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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