Risk Factors for Diabetes
| About risk factors: Risk factors for Diabetes are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Diabetes makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Diabetes. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Diabetes. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center. |
Risk factor list: The list of risk factors mentioned for Diabetes in various sources includes:
- Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes (the majority of cases):
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Race - certain races get higher rates
- African Americans
- Hispanic Americans
- Mexican Americans
- Native Americans
- Family history of Type 2 diabetes
- Genetics
- Inactive lifestyle
- Impaired glucose tolerance - IGT often progresses to Type 2 diabetes.
- Previous history of gestational diabetes - gestational diabetes can lead to Type 2 diabetes; any of the possible effects of gestational diabetes are also risk factors:
Risk factors discussion: You are more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you are age 45 or older, are overweight, are inactive, or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. You are also at high risk if diabetes runs in your family or if you are African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander. However, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing diabetes. 1
To find out your risk for type 2 diabetes, check each item that applies to you.
| I have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes. | |
| My family background is African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander. | |
| I have had gestational diabetes or I gave birth to at least one baby weighing 9 pounds or more. | |
| I have been told that my blood glucose is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. In other words, I have impaired glucose tolerance or an impaired fasting glucose level. | |
| I am overweight. My weight is at least 20 percent higher than it should be for my height. (See the body mass index table.) | |
| I am fairly inactive. I exercise fewer than three times a week. | |
| My blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, or I have been told that I have high blood pressure. | |
| My cholesterol levels are not normal. My LDL cholesterol is higher than 100; my HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) is 35 or lower; or my triglyceride level is 250 or higher. |
If you checked one or more boxes, you are at risk for type 2 diabetes. If you checked more than three boxes, your chances of getting diabetes are high. It is important to lower your risk by working on the factors under your control.1
People at High Risk for Diabetes The experts suggest that adults age 45 years and older be tested for diabetes. If their blood glucose is normal at the first test, they should be tested at 3-year intervals. People under age 45 should be tested if they are at high risk for diabetes. These high-risk factors include
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Being more than 20 percent above ideal body weight or having a body mass index (BMI) of greater than or equal to 27. BMI is the ratio of weight in kilograms to height in meters squared (kg/m2 ). (Your doctor or dietitian can provide information on your BMI.)
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Having a mother, father, brother, or sister with diabetes.
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Being African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic American, or Pacific Islander American.
-
Giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds or having diabetes during pregnancy.
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Having blood pressure at or above 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
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Having abnormal blood lipid levels, such as high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol less than 35 mg/dL or triglycerides greater than 250 mg/dL.
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Having abnormal glucose tolerance when previously tested for diabetes.
Other things that can put you at higher risk for developing diabetes include:
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Being more than 20 percent above your ideal body weight
-
Having a mother, father, brother, or sister with diabetes
-
Giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds or having diabetes during pregnancy
-
Having high blood pressure (140/90 or higher)
-
Having abnormal blood lipid levels, such as low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides
-
Having abnormal glucose tolerance in an earlier diabetes test.
Risks factors for Diabetes: medical news summaries: The following medical news items are relevant to risk factors for Diabetes:
- 52% of British people fear exercise for one reason or another
- 70% of people in India may have undiagnosed diabetes
- Avocado constituents may fight prostate cancer cell growth
- Blood protein concentration may determine heart disease risk
- Children increasingly face adult diseases
- Chronic pain in diabetics compromises level of self-care
- Dementia risk factors determined
- Depression may increase diabetes risk
- Diabetes and sugar level linked to risk of cancer death
- Diabetic children need to use continuous glucose monitoring to achieve good control of their condition
- Diabetic women don’t fare as well as diabetic men following a stenting procedure
- Diabetics are more prone to the potentially fatal bacteremia and sepsis
- Diabetics face greater rates of mortality and post-surgical complications following coronary bypass
- Diabetics need to be aware of possible complications
- Diabetics need to be more aware of benefits of aspirin
- Diet changes can benefit skin ulcer sufferers
- Eating disorders can greatly increase the risk of complications in people with type 1 diabetes
- Fast food diet linked to diabetes risk
- Fast food linked to weight increase and diabetes
- FDA warns consumers about dietary supplements that treat erectile dysfunction
- HIV patients face increased risk of diabetes and dementia
- Hyperglycemia linked to increased mortality amongst critically ill patients
- International research aims to determine if cow’s milk increases risk of type 1 diabetes
- Kidney disease is a seriously underdiagnosed condition in Australia
- Long term effects of obesity surgery examined
- Long-term offspring health may be affected by mother’s diet during pregnancy
- Lund disease may be linked to diabetes
- Magnesium has a preventative effect on type 2 diabetes
- MBL protein level linked to heart attack risk in diabetics
- New Dietary Guidelines support numerous research results
- New research suggests that low birth weight is not linked to increased risk of high cholesterol in adults
- New risk factors may be associated with cardiovascular disease risk
- Newborn size determined by level of sugar control in diabetic mothers
- Obesity increases risk of complications during pregnancy
- Obesity is associated with an increased risk of many conditions
- Pancreatic cancer surgery less common in black men
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension needs rapid diagnosis and treatment
- Plant protein may protect against some human diseases
- Poor glucose control in teenage diabetics may compromise their bone formation
- Prostate cancer risk reduced in diabetics
- Prostate cancer risk reduced in patients with long term diabetes
- Pschological disorder incidence higher in diabetics
- Rate of erectile dysfunction increases after a kidney transplant in men
- Scientists examine effects of lack of activity
- Scientists find exercise secrets in order to develop a pill to take the place of exercise
- Similar risk factors for kidney infection and urinary tract infection
- Some antipsychotic drugs linked to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- Uncontrolled diabetes can have serious consequences
- Vioxx tended not to be used by targeted group
- Vitamin D essential for more than just bone health
Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: NIDDK
2. excerpt from Diabetes Diagnosis: NIDDK
3. excerpt from Diabetes: NWHIC
Last revision: April 10, 2003
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