Diabetes is a leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes also increases the risk of serious health problems like:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Blindness
• Nerve damage, which can lead to amputation (removal by surgery) of a toe, foot, or leg
• Kidney failure

The good news is that you can do a lot to prevent or delay getting type 2 diabetes, including:

• Reaching and staying at a healthy weight
• Staying active
• Eating healthy
• Quitting smoking

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic (long-term) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Your body breaks down most of the food you eat into glucose (sugar) and releases it into your bloodstream for your cells to use as energy.

When you have diabetes, your body has trouble turning glucose into energy. Instead of being used by your body, glucose builds up in your blood. Over time, high blood glucose can damage almost every part of your body.

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. You're more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you have overweight or obesity, don't get enough physical activity, or have prediabetes.

Having prediabetes means your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for you to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. 

What other types of diabetes are there?

• Type 1 diabetes is when your body doesn’t make any insulin (or makes very little). It seems to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (when the body attacks itself). Right now, there’s no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.
• Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that some women develop during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes increases the risk of health problems for you and your baby. For example, gestational diabetes can make it more likely that you or your baby will develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Learn more about gestational diabetes.

Am I at risk for type 2 diabetes?

Many things can put you at risk for type 2 diabetes. For example, you may be at risk if you:

• Have prediabetes
• Are older than age 45 years
• Have overweight or obesity
• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes
• Are African American, Alaska Native, Native American, Asian American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
• Have high blood pressure or high LDL ("bad") cholesterol
• Are physically active less than 3 times a week

You're also at higher risk for type 2 diabetes if you:

• Have had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
• Have given birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
• Have polycystic ovary syndrome (a health condition where the ovaries make more male hormones than normal)

Learn more about the risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

What is prediabetes?

If you have prediabetes, the glucose levels in your blood are higher than normal — but not high enough to mean you have type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems, like heart disease and stroke.

The good news about prediabetes is that healthy lifestyle changes, like losing weight and getting enough physical activity, can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Find out more about prediabetes.

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop over several years. Many people with type 2 diabetes have symptoms for a long time without noticing them. Some people may never notice any symptoms.

Symptoms of diabetes include:

• Being very thirsty or hungry
• Feeling more tired than usual
• Urinating (peeing) more than usual
• Losing weight without trying
• Having cuts or bruises that are slow to heal
• Having blurry vision
• Feeling numb or tingly in your hands or feet

Because symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be hard to spot, it’s important to talk with your doctor about your risk for type 2 diabetes. If you have risk factors or notice any symptoms, ask your doctor about getting tested.

Learn more about diabetes symptoms.

Talk to your doctor about your risk for type 2 diabetes.

Take this test to find out if you could have prediabetes, which makes it more likely that you'll develop type 2 diabetes. Print out the results and take them to your next checkup.

• Ask your doctor or nurse how to prevent type 2 diabetes.
• Ask about diabetes prevention programs near you or online.
• If you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant, talk to your doctor or midwife about gestational diabetes.

Find out if you need to get tested for diabetes.

If you're at risk for type 2 diabetes, ask your doctor about getting your blood glucose (blood sugar) tested. People ages 35 to 70 years who have overweight need to get tested for diabetes. Your doctor can tell you how often to get tested.

Your doctor may also recommend that you get tested if you're younger than age 35 years and at risk for other reasons, like having high blood pressure or having a family member with type 2 diabetes.

Keep in mind that the test for diabetes can also show if you have prediabetes. Learn more about getting tested for diabetes and prediabetes.

What about cost?

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover:

• Diabetes screening for adults ages 35 to 70 years who have overweight or obesity
• Diet counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic disease

Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get these services at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to find out more. 

If you don’t have insurance, you may still be able to get free or low-cost diabetes screening. Find a health center near you and ask about getting tested for diabetes.

To learn more, check out these resources:

• Free preventive care covered by the Affordable Care Act
• How the Affordable Care Act protects you
• Understanding your health insurance and how to use it [PDF – 636 KB]

Eat healthy.

Eating healthy can help you keep your weight in a healthy range — and help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. If you have any type of diabetes, eating healthy can also help manage your condition. Learn more about healthy eating.

Choose foods that are low in saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium (salt).

If you need help eating healthy, your doctor may also refer you to a registered dietitian. A registered dietitian is a health professional who helps people with healthy eating.

Get active.

Getting active can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. It can also help you manage any type of diabetes. Aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like walking fast or biking.

• Learn more about how to get active.
• Build a weekly physical activity plan.
• Try this simple walking program.

If you have a health condition or disability, try these tips for staying active. Your doctor can help you choose the best activities for you.

Aim for a healthy weight.

If you have overweight or obesity, losing weight can help lower your risk for type 2 diabetes. Eating healthy and getting active are great ways to help you lose weight.

Try following these tips:

• Set small, realistic goals — like walking for 10 minutes each day
• Keep a food and activity diary — write down what and how much you eat each day, as well as how many minutes of physical activity you get
• Eat smaller portions — and choose water instead of sugar-sweetened drinks

Learn more about reaching a healthy weight. You can also create your own weight loss game plan to help prevent type 2 diabetes.

Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. 

• Starting at age 18 years, get your blood pressure checked every 3 to 5 years. If you're older than age 40 years or if you're at increased risk for high blood pressure, get your blood pressure checked once a year. You can also buy a blood pressure monitor to check your blood pressure at home. Learn more about getting your blood pressure checked.
• It’s important to get your cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years. Some people will need to get it checked more or less often. If your cholesterol is high, talk with your doctor about steps you can take to lower it. Learn more about getting your cholesterol checked.

If you smoke, take steps to quit.

Quitting smoking is hard, but millions of people have done it successfully. In fact, more than half of Americans who ever smoked have quit. You could be one of them!

Take these steps to help you quit:

• Make a list of the reasons you want to quit
• Set a quit date and make a plan to deal with cravings (urges to smoke)
• Talk to your doctor about counseling and medicines that can help you quit
• Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit Smokefree.gov for free help
• Download a free app for 24/7 support and encouragement

Get more tips to help you quit smoking.