Are You at Risk of Diabetes?

Diabetes and pre-diabetes are increasingly prevalent in the U.S. alongside obesity. Monitoring blood sugar and recognizing early warning signs can help identify problems before they become more serious.

Updated for 2026

Tapping into a great deal of research involving excess blood sugar, we now know more than ever before about diabetes and the downstream detrimental effects it has on health. Often asymptomatic in the early stages, many of the significant follow-on effects of the disease are not readily apparent until they have caused serious and often permanent damage: nerve damage, kidney disease, blood circulation issues, and more.

The most recent report from the CDC released in January of 2026 states that almost 30 million Americans have diabetes, and another 115 million have pre-diabetes.1 With a currnet population of roughly 350 million2, that’s alomost half of the United States. Unfortunately, many people simply do not know that they have diabetes, or pre-diabetes, a precursor to the full-blown disease where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, diabetes is a chronic disease. Meaning, once you have it, it cannot be cured – only managed, or at best, be put into remission.

The biggest single cause of diabetes is excess weight and obesity. With the exponential rise in obesity rates in the United States, it is no wonder that diabetes has seen such a surge. Unlike in the past, however, ever-younger generations are feeling its effects. Poor diet and lack of exercise have a role to play in the development of diabetes. It is also quite clear that the foods we eat are less healthy, and we exercise less than previous generations.

The foods we eat and lack of exercise. Along with eating more, the mix of foods that we eat has also worsened. We consume more processed and ultra-processed foods which commonly add sugar for taste as well as industrial emulsifiers and preservatives. We also eat more empty carbs like white bread rather than whole grains, and the amount of saturated fat in our diets is very high. And as we know, Americans consume far too much sugar in the form of sugary drinks, desserts, and more. The result is obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure — all of which increase the risk of diabetes.

With that being said, it is also important to remember that there are genetic factors that affect diabetes. These are factors that we cannot control, but we can certainly manage. If other members of your immediate family have had type-2 diabetes, it’s important you get checked regularly, too, and make lifestyle changes to prevent blood sugar levels from escalating.

Pregnancy may be a risk factor as well. Patients who experienced gestational diabetes during their pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes later on in life. If you were diagnosed with gestational diabetes, be sure to notify your primary care physician so that a type-2 diabetes testing regimen can be put in place.

Diabetes Detection. Fortunately, detecting blood sugar levels is a simple process and involves a standard blood test. Almost anyone who is at risk of diabetes can be tested at very low cost and potentially even with no deductible as part of their health insurance plan. Understanding that you have pre-diabetes or diabetes is the first step to treating it, which can avoid many serious consequences later on.

Managing diabetes via weight loss. For many patients needing to lose 10, 20 or even 30 pounds, diet and exercise is effective. However, when patients have reached a state of obesity (a BMI over 30 or 100+lbs over ideal weight), it becomes much harder to lose the weight and manage weight-related diseases such as diabetes. For those unable to achieve lasting weight loss through diet and exercise plans, bariatric or weight loss surgery may be a good option.

For severe or uncontrolled diabetes, the gastric bypass – a combination restrictive and malabsorptive bariatric procedure – is a very effective option for the right candidate. Diabetes often goes into remission just a few days or weeks after surgery. Remission is possible for many patients who follow their post-operative diet and exercise plan, even after sleeve gastrectomy. For most, with their doctor’s approval, diabetes medication can often be reduced or eliminated.

Next Steps. The first step is to find out if you are at risk for diabetes. Speak to your primary care physician to learn more about your blood sugar levels. If you’ve struggled with obesity, have a conversation about treatment options for both diabetes management and weight loss. Taking the time to speak to a qualified bariatric surgeon can give you a thorough overview of the benefits and risks associated with the procedures, allowing you to see if surgery is appropriate in your case.

We encourage you to watch one of our online seminars to learn more about bariatric surgery, as well as meet our team of physicians, clinical staff, and successful patients. We then invite you for a consultation with one of our experienced weight loss surgeons at our office.

1. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). National Diabetes Statistics Report. In CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html.
2. United States Census Bureau. (2026). U.S. and World Population Clock. In United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/popclock/.