An estimated 41 million Americans between the ages of 40 and 74
are on the verge of type 2 diabetes, according to the American
Diabetes Association. And because pre-diabetes has no symptoms,
it's easy to miss. When it's caught early, however, modest
weight loss and daily exercise can slow—even prevent—progression
to the full-blown disease. Slowing Down and Preventing Diabetes
The trick is to get a blood glucose test every three years
starting at age 45—or earlier and more frequently for anyone
who's overweight and has any of these additional risk factors:
high blood pressure, low HDL (good) cholesterol and/or high
triglycerides, polycystic ovarian syndrome (a hormone imbalance
that can cause infertility and is associated with insulin
resistance), or parents or siblings with diabetes. Risk factors
also include being of African-American, Hispanic, Native
American, Asian, or Pacific Islander descent; having gestational
diabetes or delivering an overweight baby; and not getting
enough physical activity. In famili