Were you aware that it is entirely possible that you could have diabetes right now and not even be aware of it? This is true and is supported by the latest studies on diabetes. Current estimates indicate that there are currently more than six million people who have diabetes and are undiagnosed as having the affliction.



It is almost as if diabetes is becoming an epidemic. One of the primary reasons for that in the United States is that we lead such busy lives, and as a direct result, our diets are chock-full of way too many simple sugars. Is a lousy diet in and of itself enough to trigger diabetes in someone? Current studies say yes.

A recent report by the American Diabetes Association shows that more than 48 million Americans have the beginning signs of diabetes, sometimes as known as "pre diabetes". This is determined by measuring the blood glucose levels and finding that the results of between 100 and 124 milligrams. Not only does this put that person at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, it also puts that person at risk for heart disease and stroke.

The role of blood sugar in the body is the responsibility of fueling the cells and providing sufficient energy that is required for our general health. But the blood sugar levels need to be kept under control, which is the goal of diabetes prevention as well as diabetes management for people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes.

Although it may sound like the same old song and dance, losing weight and increasing your levels of exercise will go a long ways towards helping to control and improve your blood sugar levels, whether or not you have been diagnosed with diabetes. This fact has been backed up in study after study, and maintaining an optimum weight for your size and age, combined with regular exercise is the single best thing most people can do for keeping their blood sugar under control.

But one of the accompanying problems with this is the factor of fatigue. For diabetics and those in a pre-diabetic status, fatigue is a very common symptom, and therefore many people who need it most simply do not have enough energy to implement a regular health exercise regime. It is like a snowball going downhill - that lack of energy has the net result of less exercise, which then results in the higher figures for glucose.

There are some fairly simple tests that your doctor can run to determine if you are diabetic or in a pre-diabetic state. Without going into medical terminology, you should ask your doctor to run these tests and make sure that your glucose levels are normal for you. He or she will be able to tell you what is normal and what is abnormal, but one of the best defenses for diabetes is an early diagnosis, so that you can make lifestyle and diet changes before the devastating effects of full blown diabetes set in. You may not have to make any changes at all, but almost all of us could stand to eat a healthy meal on a more regular basis!