Chronic conditions are the major cause of death and disability worldwide. Knowing risk factors for a chronic conditions, including diabetes, can help you prevent or delay it.
Even if you already have a chronic condition, knowing these risk factors can help you better manage it.
In this blog, we will discuss the main risk factors for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes risk factors
Genetics
Some gene variations can increase your risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Your doctor can check for these gene variations.
Family history
Your risk increases if you have a parent, sister, or brother who has type 1 diabetes. If both parents have type 1 diabetes, the risk increases more.
Age
You can develop type 1 diabetes at any age, but it is more likely to happen in childhood or early adulthood.
Type 2 diabetes risk factors
Family history
Your risk increases if you have a parent, sister, or brother who has type 2 diabetes.
Age
You can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, but your risk increases if you are 45 years or older.
Weight
Being overweight means you have more fatty tissue, which causes your cells to become resistant to insulin.
Physical inactivity
If you are physically active less than 3 times a week, then your chances of developing type 2 diabetes increase.
Gestational diabetes
Having diabetes during pregnancy or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 4 kilograms, increases a woman’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Coexisting conditions
Having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, and/or abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels, may also increase your risk for type 2 diabetes.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a serious health condition in which your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Left untreated, prediabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has a tool to calculate your risk for prediabetes.
It only takes 60 seconds! You can share your results with us. One of our expert clinicians will contact you to discuss the results and the necessary steps you need to take in order to prevent developing type 2 diabetes.
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