Diabetes screening is recommended for:

• Overweight children who have other risk factors for diabetes, starting at age 10 and repeating every 2 years
• Overweight adults (BMI greater than 25) who have other risk factors
• Adults over 45 every 3 years

You can help prevent type 2 diabetes by keeping a healthy body weight and an active lifestyle.

To prevent complications of diabetes, visit your health care provider or diabetes educator at least four times a year. Talk about any problems you are having.

Stay up-to-date with all your vaccinations and get a flu shot every year.

To prevent diabetes-related foot problems, you should:

• Stop smoking if you smoke.
• Improve control of your blood sugar
• Get a foot exam by your health care provider at least twice a year and learn whether you have nerve damage.
• Check and care for your feet EVERY DAY, especially if you already have known nerve or blood vessel damage or current foot problems. Follow the instructions below.
• Make sure you are wearing the right kind of shoes.