There is no reason to be surprised. Besides symptoms, history can offer warnings. Although you don't need diabetic ancestors to become diabetic, susceptibility to the disease appears to be passed down through the generations. If you know you're at risk, you can do something about it. Diabetes treatment has come a long way in the past 20 years.
Prevention is even more effective.
First of all, nearly 90 percent of those diagnosed with diabetes are obese. You don't have to become a marathon runner to benefit. Three 30-minute sessions of brisk walking per week will help strip away the fat. Recently, though, we've learned that the benefits of exercise for diabetes-prone people go beyond weight loss. Both endurance exercise and weight lifting can help stabilize blood-sugar levels.