"For a long time, 3diabetes, 4hypertension were both known as what are called silent diseases, meaning they are affecting your body and causing long-term damage before you start to have a lot of 5physical symptoms."

Dr. Brent Smith with the American Academy of Family Physicians says that's why early 6detection and 7intervention is critical to slow or even prevent diabetes 8progression. So he says to be aware of the 9red flags.

"It's increased thirst and increased 10urination. So when you're a diabetic and you have this extra sugar floating around in your system, your body tends to either tends to 11get rid of it through your urine."

In addition to increased thirst and urination, Smith says to also watch out for signs like 12sluggishness, 13general malaise, or not feeling like yourself. But he says before symptoms start, it's important to see a doctor to be screened and evaluated for diabetes risk.

"We would all be a lot happier treating and preventing it than we would be dealing with the 14consequences of uncontrolled diabetes or other medical conditions."

Smith says managing your weight can reduce risk of type 2 diabetes. Do that by having a healthy diet, cutting out simple sugars as much as possible, and regular exercise.

"And the recommendation for exercise is a total of 150 minutes over the course of the week, which breaks down to about 30 minutes of a 15brisk walk or 16cardiovascular exercise five days a week."