Risk factors for diabetes

Summary

Diabetes is a condition that occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, pre-diabetes is when the sugar is borderline. It means that you are at risk of diabetes in the future. The is no single thing that leads to developing diabetes. It is often a combination of factors. There are some things you can’t change. The good news is that the biggest factors are things you can do something about.

Things you can’t control

Ethnicity

Family history

Age

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Gestational diabetes

Things you can control

Weight

Sedentary lifestyle

Improving your diet and exercising will help to prevent diabetes or manage it

Blood pressure – having a lower blood pressure will improve your health

Cholesterol / triglyceride levels

Sleep – get a healthy amount of sleep

Things you can control

Pre-diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classified as diabetes.

People with pre-diabetes have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes if they don’t make lifestyle changes to improve their blood sugar levels.

Pre-diabetes is considered an early warning sign, and it provides an opportunity to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes through lifestyle modifications such as diet, exercise, and weight management.

Things you can’t

There are factors that you can’t really do much about. However, knowing about them can help you make sure you are more careful about the things that you can do something about.

Ethnicity: Risk of diabetes is 6 times higher in South Asian groups than white groups. South Asians also have higher risk of complications and death from diabetes. Diabetes in black groups is 3 times higher than white population. There is a higher risk of high blood pressure and stroke, but diabetic complications are the same as white groups.

Family history: Having a family history of type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing pre-diabetes.

Age: The risk of pre-diabetes increases with age, especially after 45 years old.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Women with PCOS have a higher risk of developing insulin resistance and pre-diabetes.

Summary

It’s essential to be aware of these risk factors and take preventive measures, such as adopting a healthy lifestyle with regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight, to reduce the risk of developing pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Regular health check-ups and screenings can help identify pre-diabetes early and enable timely interventions.

If you have specific concerns about your risk factors, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional for personalised advice.