Can diabetes be prevented? And if it CAN be prevented why isn’t more being done to prevent it?

The answer to the first question is twofold.

Type 1 Diabetes:

There is no guaranteed method for preventing Type 1 diabetes. Research has uncovered some methods that MAY help some children who would be likely to develop diabetes from actually becoming diabetic.

The children who are most susceptible to diabetes are Caucasian children who have been given cow’s milk as an infant. Caucasian children who are most susceptible to diabetes but who were breast fed and given no cow’s milk have a lower incidence of diabetes. Doctors recommend breast feeding for babies who have a family history of diabetes. Although breast feeding is no guarantee that the child will not have diabetes, it does seem to lower the risk.

Currently the prevention of diabetes research is being conducted. A vaccine has been developed that has proven effective in mice, but has not yet been tested on humans. There are also trials underway to give insulin (oral or injected) before diabetes develops. This is now being tested on humans and is identified as the Diabetes Prevention Trial – Type 1 (DPT-1).

Type 2 Diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented, or at least delayed, by making adjustments to diet and exercise levels. It is a fact that Type 2 diabetes can be completely prevented by losing weight and increasing exercise to a modest 30 minutes per day, five days per week. That isn’t a lot, and the exercise doesn’t have to be extreme to be effective.

People who are over 40, overweight, and sedentary are most at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes; but simple dietary changes — making better food choices — and increasing physical activity can actually prevent (or at least delay) Type 2 diabetes.