To learn more about diabetes services available. at UPMC, call 1-800-533-UPMC or log on to access additional diabetes education information. …
Did you know that if you have diabetes, members of your family have a much greater risk of getting the disease? People with type 2 diabetes have trouble using their bodys insulin This problem can be passed down in our genes similar to the way hair and eye colors are passed down to our children And we know that type 2 diabetes is often seen in members of the same family However, although there is a strong family tie, people can also develop diabetes even if no one in their family has the disease
To learn more about diabetes services available at UPMC, call 1-800-533-UPMC or log on to the University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Institute website, http://diabetesinstituteupmccom, to access additional diabetes education information
This project was sponsored by funding from the United States Air Force administered by the US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Fort Detrick, Maryland, Award Number W81XWH-04-2-0030 Review of materials does not imply Department of the Air Force endorsement of factual accuracy or opinion
Are your family members at risk?
They may be if they: have a history of diabetes in the family are overweight do not exercise often are African-American, Hispanic,
Asian, Pacific Islander or Native American have had a baby weighing over 9 pounds at birth have high blood pressure People who are at risk should talk to their doctor about diabetes and getting tested
We 
ight loss tips
If a member of your family is overweight, he or she should lose at least 5 to 10 percent of body weight Below are some simple tips to lose weight: Reduce the number of calories taken each day Lower the amount of fat in the diet Eat more servings of fruits and vegetables every day Dont eat late at night Choose lean meats like chicken and turkey instead of beef and pork Replace sugarsweetened beverages with water and add a twist of lemon
Pre-diabetes Physical activity tips
In pre-diabetes, the blood sugar glucose level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diabetes People who have pre-diabetes tend to develop type 2 diabetes, often within 10 years You dont need a fancy routine to be physically active All you have to do to burn calories is move your body Here are some examples of how you and your family can become physically active: Take a brisk walk for 30 minutes every day Walk or march in place while you watch television Wash your car by hand — make it a
family activity Do yard work Park farther away from the entrance of the grocery store
What can I do to help prevent my family from getting diabetes?
Diabetes can be delayed or even prevented If your family members are at risk, it is very important for them to maintain a healthy lifestyle If they are overweight, losing a small amount of weight and increasing physical activity can make a big difference
