Diabetes is a growing pandemic not only in third world countries, where close to 80 percent of diabetes cases are attributed to low income conditions, but also in the Western world, including the United States.  
Close to 350 million people all over the world have diabetes, with experts believing it could very well rise to become the world’s number 7 in the leading cause of death by 2030. In 2012 alone, more than one-and-a-half million people died because of diabetes. The good news is that Type 2 diabetes is highly preventable.

Understanding Diabetes

When you eat, carbohydrates are converted into energy-giving molecules known as glucose, or simply sugar. The sugar is transported from the blood and into the different cells of the body by a hormone called insulin. Insulin is the critical transport mechanism needed to move sugar from the blood and into the cell. 
In diabetes, there is a problem with insulin. In Type 1 diabetes, the body is not producing enough insulin or none at all because of a defect in the pancreas, the organ that produces insulin, or a problem in the production of insulin. In Type II diabetes, the pancreas is otherwise healthy and there is enough insulin in the body. But the main problem is that it cannot get inside the cell.

The end result of all these processes is that sugar in the blood accumulates while cells starve to death. This is because there is no insulin to carry the sugar from the blood and into the cell or that there are certain factors that are preventing insulin from carrying out its job.

Can it be Prevented?

Obviously, the problem with Type 1 is a genetic flaw with the production of insulin in the pancreas. So, there is very little that can be done to prevent it. However, Type II diabetes is highly preventable. 

Diabetes has been closely associated with obesity. Experts have compelling evidence that addressing obesity can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes. Prevention therefore will be directed towards the prevention of obesity or the management of weight issues.

• Regular exercises are essential to diabetes prevention. The greater the physical inactivity, the higher the risk for obesity and the greater the chances for diabetes. It is recommended that exercises should be performed at least three times a week.
• Eat healthy. Include whole grains and a lot of fiber in your diet. Think about portion control and the variety of foods that you eat. High fiber foods can significantly improve your ability to control sugar. Lose weight. Excess fat increases resistance to insulin making it more difficult to bring sugar into the cell. 

Diabetes prevention is more of a choice. By starting at a young age, having enough exercise and a healthy pattern of eating can significantly reduce your risk of diabetes. If you are health buff and would like to read more health topics visit this site.