Diabetes
The stats are eye-popping enough to spike your heart rate, if not your blood sugar: According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes—and up to a third do not even know it. Ninety to 95 percent of these cases are type 2 diabetes, which is linked to being overweight.
Diabetes often develops gradually, as insulin production in the pancreas slows. You could have the disease for years and not know—which can spell danger for your eyes, heart, kidneys, and nervous system. If you have a family history of diabetes—make sure to get checked for the first time by age 45, especially if you’re overweight.
Recommendation: Much of this is reversible with diet and lifestyle changes. Following a low carb or ketogenic diet is very helpful for managing type 2 diabetes.
