Diabetes is one of the ailments that is fast becoming a matter of concern among the urban population all over the world. Already the disease has assumed epidemic proportions in the USA. It is estimated that over 16 million people in the US are victims of this disease.

Indeed so rampant is the spread of this disease that several sufferers are not even aware of the fact that they are suffering from diabetes. The disease goes undetected for quite some time till the symptoms are aggravated and thus the problem has become a major matter of concern.

Even though the exact cause of diabetes is yet to be pinpointed, several factors are known to lead this disease. One of the commonest factors which leads to diabetes is obesity. That is why doctors warn their overweight patients to lose weight not only as a precaution against heart disease but also as a way to prevent such lifestyle afflictions as diabetes.

If a family member is known to be a diabetic then the next of kin in the blood line of the diabetic needs to be doubly cautious. This is for, diabetes usually affects people with a family history of diabetes. In fact, when a patient of diabetes first meets up with his or her doctor, family history is the first thing doctor inquires about. A doctor needs detailing about the family history before prescribing a course of treatment for the patient.

Often diabetics have been people with a love for sedentary lifestyle. This too, is a habit that diabetics are advised to shake off. But simply changing one’s lifestyle or eating habits is not enough. One also needs to follow a course of medication in order to keep the disease under control. The medication is needed to help the body make insulin, especially when there is no insulin production at all. In cases where some insulin is produced by the body, using insulin efficiently is important.

After a simple test which checks glucose levels in the blood, the treatment course is adjusted for the patient. Added to this, is the recommendation to eat healthy fiber-rich food, a curtailment of sweet consumption to the minimum and an exercise routine that involves walks and activity, instead of living out one’s life as a couch potato.