Sept. 22, 2005 -- Diabetes may have killed nearly 3 million people in 2000, making it the world's No. 5 cause of death, by a new estimate.

The numbers, published in Diabetes Care, come from researchers including the World Health Organization's Gojka Roglic, MD.

U.S. Diabetes Deaths

Diabetes was the No. 6 cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2000. Diabetes deaths are probably underreported, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

The risk for early death among people with diabetes is about two times that of people without diabetes, says the NIDDK.

Staying Healthy With Diabetes

While experts bat numbers back and forth, millions of people probably just want to stay off that death list.

More than 18 million people in the U.S. have diabetes (mainly type 2 diabetes), and more than 5 million of them don't know it, according to the NIDDK.

Diabetes has also been rising in the U.S. About 41 million people in the U.S. have prediabetesprediabetes, according to the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP).

In prediabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes raises the risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

Diabetes Tests Are Simple

It's a good idea to talk to your doctor about getting tested for diabetes, especially if you're over 45, overweight, or have a family history of diabetes.

A diabetes test consists of a simple blood test done when the patient has not eaten for at least 10 hours.

With diabetes, fasting blood sugar is at least 126 mg/dL. Fasting blood sugar is 100 to 125 in prediabetes. Normal fasting blood sugar is less than 100.

Preventing Diabetes

Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent diabetes.

• Eat a low-fat, low-calorie dietlow-fat, low-calorie diet
• Maintain a healthy weight. Even losing a small amount of weight can significantly lower the risk of diabetes.
• Get 30 minutes of physical activity five days per week. Even gardening counts.
• Ask your doctor or health care provider if you're at risk for diabetes or if you have prediabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms

Signs of diabetes may include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurred vision

See your doctor right away if you have one or more of those diabetes symptoms.

Managing Diabetes

If you've got diabetes, do your best to take care of yourself.

• Follow your diabetes food plan.
• Eat the right portions of healthy foods.
• Eat foods that have less salt and fat.
• Get 30 to 60 minutes of activity on most days of the week.
• Stay at a healthy weight.
• Stop smoking.
• Take medicines as instructed by your doctor.
• Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, red spots, and swelling.
• Call your health care team immediately about any sores that won't heal.
• Brush and floss your teeth every day.
• Check your blood glucose as instructed by your doctor.
• Get routine medical care.
• Work with your health care team to manage your diabetes and stay healthy.