If current trends are to be believed, 1 in 5 Americans will have diabetes by 2025 — and 1 in 3 a generation later.

So says the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which calls the figures “alarming.” But when you think about today’s lifestyles — too often sedentary, with unhealthy diets — is it really all that surprising?

“We simply cannot sustain this trajectory,” says the agency’s Dr. Ann Allbright.

Certainly genetics also play a part in explaining why 29.1 million Americans already suffer from the disease. It’s characterized by the body’s inability to produce (or properly use) the hormone insulin that’s needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy.

But when it comes to those lifestyle issues — which, unlike genes, we can control — perhaps the best advice to limit the growing epidemic of diabetes comes from Dennis Marchiori, DC PhD, current president of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges: “Simply put, when you live healthier, you have a better chance of managing your blood sugar.”

The “DC” stands for doctor of chiropractic. And today’s chiropractors, with a minimum of seven years of education and clinical training, are helping to address the root cause of lifestyle-acquired Type II Diabetes (or Adult On-Set Diabetes) through their emphasis on healthy living and natural lifestyles. They’re also well-educated in nutrition, enabling them to construct individualized health regimens for patients that include:

• Eating well-balanced meals that are low in processed sugar.

• Consuming a variety of fiber-rich foods like fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.

• Weight management.

“Type II Diabetes is a preventable disease, and choosing a healthy lifestyle is critical,” says the not-for-profit Foundation for Chiropractic Progress’ Gerard Clum, DC.

And if you’re new to exercise, a chiropractor’s skill in manual care will also come in handy.