If you’re on the road to diabetes, you probably have no idea. Type 2 diabetes has been on the rise for many years, but according to a new study part of the trouble in preventing it is that many don’t even know they’re at risk. “To gauge awareness of a diabetes risk among people with pre-diabetes, researchers gathered a large group of people and weeded out those who said they already had diabetes. Then, they reviewed A1c test results for everyone else to see whether their average blood sugar had been elevated over the last few weeks, an early sign of diabetes. Out of 2,694 adults with high blood sugar, only 288 or one in eight were aware of their status. People who were aware of their condition were about 30 percent more likely to exercise and get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week. They were also about 80 percent more likely to attempt weight loss and to have shed pounds in the past year. Lacking awareness, people with the elevated blood sugar levels often fail to make lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise or eating less sugary food that might prevent them from ultimately becoming diabetic.” The team says people who think they might be at risk should talk to their doctor about whether they need to be tested and should ask for an explanation on what the results mean and whether they need to make changes in their lifestyle.