What are the risk factors of diabetes?
Diabetes Risk Factors. Diabetes is a metabolic disease with four main types: type 1, type 2, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes. It involves spikes in blood sugar levels, and can eventually cause more collateral health damage if it is not managed effectively.
Below is a list of factors that make someone susceptible to varying blood sugar levels and diabetes. We categorized these risk factors according to the four types of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
Contrary to other types of diabetes, type 1 is an autoimmune condition (the body mistakenly identifies insulin-producing organ or cells as foreign agents and attacks them). Its risk factors are not as defined as type 2 diabetes. However, these could be a few reasons:
- Family history – any member of the family, either the parents or siblings, has type 1 diabetes.
- Age – although type 1 diabetes can happen to anyone regardless of age, the condition is common in children and younger adults.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to stabilize and control blood sugar levels. Individuals can develop type 2 diabetes if they have/are:
- Prediabetes
- Overweight or obese
- 45 years and older
- A family history of diabetes (siblings or parents with type 2 diabetes)
- Physically inactive or sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise)
- Diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy or gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more)
Prediabetes
Prediabetes refers to higher than normal blood sugar levels; however, not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. You can be at risk of prediabetes if you are:
- Overweight or obese
- 45 years or older
- Family history of type 2 diabetes (siblings or parents with type 2 diabetes)
- Physically inactive (lack of physical exercise)
- Diagnosed with gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy or gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more)
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy. You are at risk of developing this condition if you are/have:
- Diagnosed with gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy
- Overweight or obese
- More than 25 years old
- Given birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds
- Family history of type 2 diabetes (siblings or parents with type 2 diabetes)
- Diagnosed with a hormonal disorder called PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
Note: Compared with other diabetes, gestational diabetes usually disappears after giving birth; however, this also increases the risk for type 2 diabetes. In addition, the baby can also develop type 2 diabetes later in their life.