In 1736, Benjamin Franklin cautioned his fellow Philadelphians that when it came to fire prevention, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

That advice is still good today when it comes to stopping the health problems that uncontrolled (or unreversed) Type 2 diabetes can ignite.

A new study presented at the 2022 Diabetes U.K. Professional Conference found that people with Type 2 diabetes develop chronic conditions more often and earlier than people without the metabolic disease.

For the 1.4 million people who researchers looked at, eye and genital/urinary problems were diagnosed around eight years earlier, and circulatory and neurologic conditions around six years earlier. There was also a 9% greater risk for cancers.

And for people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes before the age of 50, the risks were amplified. They develop the highest-risk conditions 10 to 15 years earlier than people without diabetes. People diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in their 60s develop them five years earlier than nondiabetic peers. 

If you've been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you can control or even reverse it with smart lifestyle choices: no red meats or highly processed foods; no added fructose, sugar, syrup, or simple carbs; a plant-based diet; good sleep and stress-management habits; daily exercise; and medication as needed.

Don't delay taking charge of your diabetes. Work with a diabetes educator and a nutritionist, and dive into "The Great Age Reboot" (my new book, out soon).

You can live younger, longer, and stronger.