The ups and downs of your diabetes risk
Around 96 million U.S. adults have prediabetes. That’s why knowing what unexpected lifestyle habits may raise your risk (you already know poor nutrition and sedentary behavior are huge factors) and what you can do to lower your risk is so important.
If you’re a night owl, you’re 19% more likely to develop diabetes than folks who are early to bed, early to rise — perhaps because you also have less healthy lifestyle habits relating to smoking, alcohol, and physical activity. However, changing your daily clock can be tough, especially since for some folks it’s genetically determined and for others it may be the result of an inflexible work schedule. But whatever your situation, you want to be vigilant about adopting healthier lifestyle habits concerning nutrition and physical activity. One note: Although the information, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, comes from looking at data on 63,676 female nurses from the Nurses’ Health Study II, you can bet guys who are night owls also need to take steps to decrease their risk factors.
As for helping prevent Type 2 diabetes? In addition to exercise, plant-based nutrition, and good sleep habits, data from the ASPREE study presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes shows that for adults 65 and older, taking 100 milligrams enteric-coated aspirin daily lowers their risk of developing diabetes by 15%. That’s amazing. So, discuss your bleeding risks from taking aspirin with your doctor and see if this is a useful strategy for you.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, “The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow,” and find out more at www.longevityplaybook. com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.