While Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, Type 2 certainly can. Historically, Type 2 diabetes was referred to as adult onset because most people did not experience this condition until their later years. Nowadays, even children can be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Much of this is due to lifestyle factors that can be totally prevented. Here are three major tips to help you prevent Type 2 diabetes from happening in your family:

Lose extra weight: You may not be aware that even losing 5% of your body weight, especially weight around your abdominal area, can help you to reduce your risk. Carrying around extra weight causes a whole variety of hormonal problems that can lead to Type 2 diabetes in the end. Not only can extra weight cause insulin resistance, but it can create a lot of different problems including heart disease and fatty liver, among other things. As if that isn't bad enough, if you have Type 2, your brain can't properly receive the messages delivered by the feel-full hormone known as leptin. Leptin is the hormone that tells your brain you need to stop eating. There is no question that carrying around extra weight is not good for anyone.

Eat healthy: We've all heard it before. We are supposed to eat healthier, but it is difficult. That is because there are so many processed and fast foods available to us these days. Parents should be quite concerned with what their kids are eating at school as the cafeteria is often one of the unhealthiest places they go. Even if you are feeding your children healthy food at home, they might be getting processed snacks when they go to school. Educate your children on eating a diet low in fat and calories with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

Start moving: Unfortunately, the average American spends almost five hours a day watching television, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The same as surfing the Internet and playing video games, television watching is almost always a passive, sedentary activity, one that requires the viewer to sit and stare for a long period of time in one direction. This is a somewhat unnatural task for the muscles of the human body. Unfortunately television watching is often accompanied by eating sweet or fat-laden foods.

Everyone should focus on getting at least 30 minutes of moderate physical exercise every single day. Think about the time you spend sitting in front of the television at night. We all have at least an extra 30 minutes we can use to exercise, even if it means doing 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening. You don't have to go crazy; just walk, ride your bike or swim a few laps.

Anyone who already has received a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes will tell you they wish they had made these lifestyle modifications before everything went too far. Reversing the disease is a lot harder than preventing it in the first place. Unless you want to have a lifetime of taking medication or even insulin shots, it makes sense to pay attention to these warnings now so that you can prevent the disease from ever happening to you.

By Beverleigh H Piepers