Who is at risk for Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? Taking Steps to Lower Your Risk of Getting Diabetes? ?
You can do a lot to reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Being more physically active, reducing fat and calorie intake, and losing a little weight can help you lower your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Taking the diabetes medicine metformin can also reduce risk, particularly in younger and heavier people with prediabetes and women who have had gestational diabetes. Lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels also helps you stay healthy.
                
If you are overweight, then take these steps:
                
- Reach and maintain a reasonable body weight. Even a 10 or 15 pound weight loss makes a big difference.  - Make wise food choices most of the time.  - Be physically active every day.
                
If you are fairly inactive, then take this step:
                
- Be physically active every day.
                
If your blood pressure is too high, then take these steps:
                
- Reach and maintain a reasonable body weight.  - Make wise food choices most of the time.  - Reduce your sodium and alcohol intake.  - Be physically active every day.  - Talk with your doctor about whether you need medicine to control your blood pressure.
                
If your cholesterol or triglyceride levels are too high, then take these steps:
                
- Make wise food choices most of the time.  - Be physically active every day.  - Talk with your doctor about whether you need medicine to control your cholesterol levels.