Diabetes is far from always preventable. Never in type 1 diabetes. But it often is with the most common form of diabetes, type 2 diabetes. Don't let them take away your health! Enough exercise, sensible eating, not smoking and a healthy weight will get you far. You can reduce your risk by up to half.
Staying in motion is very important. Preferably at least half an hour every day. You don't necessarily have to go to the gym or the sports field, you can also go walking or cycling. You don't have to move for half an hour at a time, you can also do it in 10-minute segments. Incorporate movement into your daily life: go to work or the store by bike, take the stairs instead of the elevator. This way it is easier to keep up. Even if you already have diabetes, exercise is important. Exercise keeps your blood sugar more stable.
Healthy eating
Eat a varied diet in moderation, sweets as little as possible and avoid sugary drinks and fruit juices. Eat plenty of fruit, lots of vegetables, choose whole grain products, lean and unprocessed meat and use little salt. When baking, use unsaturated fats such as oil and liquid margarine.
Quit smoking
Everyone knows that smoking is unhealthy, and quitting is not easy. But smoking greatly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes: by 30 to 40%.
Healthy weight
A healthy weight is also important. When you are overweight, the body often has trouble balancing blood sugar. Because it then reacts less well to insulin. This can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Losing a little weight already helps
The good news: the risk of type 2 diabetes is immediately reduced when you lose weight. Even at a few pounds.
Type 1 diabetes not preventable
This form of diabetes comes from your own immune system. It makes a mistake, and we don't know yet what we can do about it. Of course, a lot of research is going into that, so that we can prevent type 1 diabetes in the future.