HOME JOURNAL HEALTH QUIZ - 8

Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for diabetes?

1. Being overweight
2. Being sedentary
3. Alcoholism
4. A family history of the disease

You are correct if you answered: Alcoholism

Mention diabetes, and most people think of children who must inject insulin because their bodies don't produce it. That's Type 1 diabetes, but it accounts for only about 10 percent of cases. Type 2 diabetes makes up the other 90 percent, and is largely related to lifestyle risk factors, particularly obesity.

Compared to men, women are more likely to develop the disease; according to the CDC, about 8.1 million women are diabetic (versus 7.5 million men). Diabetes can have serious consequences, leading to heart and kidney disease, and eye and nerve damage.

Studies show that losing weight and exercising regularly reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes, and helps treat the condition in those who have it, according to Judith Fradkin, M.D., director of diabetes, endocrine, and metabolic diseases research at the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The best bets to reduce risk: a low-fat diet and an easy-to-maintain program of brisk walking.

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