JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT)—Over the years, the number of diabetes cases has increased steadily, especially in southern states.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that 12% of the country’s population has diabetes. Each year, the number continues to grow.

That percentage is even higher in the southern parts of the country.

There are things, however, that you can change to help prevent diabetes.

“Exercise and then living a sedentary lifestyle,” said Amber Toombs, PRN Diabetes Educator. “Those are two of the big ones that we see that people who don’t exercise and do live that sedentary lifestyle, we do see a higher prevalence of type two diabetes in those patients.”

She said some things cannot be changed, such as family history, gender, age, and ethnicity.

A simple blood test at your doctor’s office can tell you if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing it.

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