10 Eating Habits That May Prevent Diabetes

Diabetes is a growing problem in the United States and it seems to be somewhat of a trendy topic nowadays, what with Paula Deen’s recent confession. According to the American Diabetes Association, 25.8 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes and that number keeps growing every year. Luckily, there are habits and lifestyle choices that we can adopt to reduce the risk of developing the most common type of diabetes.

There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 is a genetic illness that is most often diagnosed in children and is unfortunately not preventable. Type 2 diabetes, however, is preventable. It occurs when the body stops producing the hormone called insulin, which is needed to break down the food we eat into energy. This form of diabetes can be diagnosed at any age and is mostly related to genetics, lifestyle choices, and ethnicity.

Slideshow: 10 Eating Habits That May Help to Prevent Diabetes Slideshow

Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes and the number of people who suffer from it continues to grow, especially among the younger populations where it once was a rare occurrence. Our increasingly inactive lifestyle, along with poor eating habits, contributes greatly to the rising number of type 2 diabetics. There is no magic formula to prevent diabetes, but adopting healthier eating habits and making sure to exercise are important steps toward prevention.

As registered dietician Christine Tseng states, "No specific foods will lead to diabetes, so lifestyle modifications are the way to go to prevent diabetes." Taking control of your lifestyle early may help prevent diabetes and the number of health complications that can come with it.

Here are 10 easy diet modifications you can make to better your habits and improve your chances of preventing diabetes. 

Click here to see 10 Eating Habits That May Help to Prevent Diabetes Slideshow.

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