Risk Factors of Diabetes

Are you at risk for developing diabetes?

The risk factors for type 1 diabetes are still being researched. However, having a family member with type 1 diabetes slightly increases the risk of developing the disease.

Several risk factors have been associated with type 2 diabetes and include:

1. Family history of diabetes: Increase risk if a parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes
2. Overweight: Excess fatty tissue cause leads to insulin resistance.
3. Unhealthy diet
4. Physical inactivity: Physical activity helps to control weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes cells more sensitive to insulin.
5. Increasing age
6. High blood pressure
7. Ethnicity: People of certain races — including blacks, Hispanics, American Indians and Asians — are at higher risk
8. Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT)*
9. History of gestational diabetes
10. Poor nutrition during pregnancy

*Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) is a category of higher than normal blood glucose, but below the threshold for diagnosing diabetes.