"Who's next?"
The American Diabetes Association has just unveiled an online calculator that estimates your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke over the next 30 years. It’s at My Health Advisor. Anyone can use it.
You use the calculator anonymously, although I assume they will capture the IP address of your computer. You don’t have to know the following data about yourself, but the ADA says the results will be more accurate if you provide more information [certainly makes sense]:
- cholesterol levels: total, HDL, LDL
- most recent fasting plasma glucose level
- recent blood pressure
- results of oral glucose tolerance test
- hemoglobin A1c result
- estimate of average glucose levels
I have no idea of the accuracy of this calculator. But I rather doubt the ADA would offer it without substantial validation.
I’m always trying to figure out how to motivate people to take better care of themselves. This calculator could help. The print-out of your results suggests ways you might reduce your risk.
Remember that the Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.
Steve Parker, M.D.
Diabetic Mediterranean Diet 