MN-DC.org: Family History

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Family History and Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

What is a Family Health History?
It is a record of any serious health conditions that you and your family members have now or in the past. It can help show patterns of certain diseases in your family.

Diabetes runs in families. If you have a mother, father, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes, you have a greater risk for developing the disease.

The good news is that you can cut your risk for type 2 diabetes in half!

– even if you have a family history or already have pre-diabetes

Eat more fruits, vegetables & whole grains and less fat
Be active 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week
Don’t smoke
Eat smaller portions and lose 10 pounds if you are overweight
Watch your blood pressure and cholesterol
Talk to your doctor about all serious health problems in your family tree

Even if you do not have a family history of type 2 diabetes, you may still be at risk if you:
( see Know your risk for diabetes)

Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
Are age 45 years and older
Are overweight
Are of African-American, American Indian, Hispanic / Latino American or Asian American descent
Have had gestational diabetes or given birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds
Have heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol

Take small steps to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes:
You cannot change your family history, but things you can change will make a difference:

Know your risk and get screened for type 2 diabetes

Get screened every year if you are 45 years and older and have other diabetes risk factors
Talk to your doctor about your family history risk of diabetes

Be active every day

Set realistic goals to start, such as walking 10 minutes a day most days
Work up to being active 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week

Make better food choices

Eat a balanced diet most days
Cut down on eating fatty foods and salt

Watch your weight

The more you are overweight, the greater your risk
If you are overweight, losing just 10 pounds will help
Cut down how much you eat – use a smaller plate and eat slowly

Watch your blood pressure and cholesterol
- Get checked at least once a year

Ask your doctor about ways to lower high blood pressure or high cholesterol

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION –

Record your family health history:

4 Questions You Should Ask Your Family about Diabetes. Take the Family History Quiz – http://ndep.nih.gov/am-i-at-risk/family-history/index.aspx#quiz
Create a Family History Portrait: U.S. Surgeon General’s Family History Initiative: My Family Health Portrait – http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/

Know your risk for diabetes:

Am I at Risk for Diabetes? – http://ndep.nih.gov/am-i-at-risk/family-history/index.aspx#main
Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? Taking Steps to Lower Your Risk of Getting Diabetes – http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/riskfortype2/
Diabetes Risk Test – http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/diabetes-risk-test/

Take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes:

Diabetes Basics: Prevention – http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/
Eagle Books: Stories about Growing Strong and Preventing Diabetes – http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/eagle.htm
I CAN Prevent Diabetes – www.icanpreventdiabetes.org
It's Not Too Late to Prevent Diabetes – http://ndep.nih.gov/publications/PublicationDetail.aspx?PubId=75
More Than 50 Ways To Prevent Diabetes – http://ndep.nih.gov/publications/PublicationDetail.aspx?PubId=72
Prevent Diabetes – http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/prevent.htm
Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Your Family – http://ndep.nih.gov/am-i-at-risk/family-history/index.aspx#tips
Preventing Diabetes: Questions for the doctor – http://healthfinder.gov/prevention/ViewTool.aspx?toolId=44
Take Small Steps to Prevent Diabetes – http://ndep.nih.gov/am-i-at-risk/TakeSmallSteps.aspx
Take Steps to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes – http://www.healthfinder.gov/prevention/ViewTopic.aspx?topicId=73
Two Reasons I Find Time to Prevent Diabetes: My Future and Theirs – http://www.ndep.nih.gov/publications/PublicationDetail.aspx?PubId=126

Your Family Health History…
Know your past
Act in the present
Protect your future