From the Guidelines
Risk factors for type II diabetes include obesity, physical inactivity, family history, age over 45, race/ethnicity, history of gestational diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, and high blood pressure or cholesterol, as identified in the most recent study 1.
Key Risk Factors
- Obesity: excess weight, particularly around the abdomen, increases risk due to insulin resistance 1
- Physical inactivity: sedentary lifestyle reduces cellular insulin sensitivity 1
- Family history: genetic predisposition, especially in first-degree relatives, increases risk 1
- Age: risk increases after 45, though type II diabetes is increasingly affecting younger populations 1
- Race/ethnicity: certain subgroups, such as African American, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian American, are at higher risk 1
- History of gestational diabetes: prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases risk 1
- Polycystic ovary syndrome: this condition is associated with an increased risk of type II diabetes 1
- High blood pressure or cholesterol: these conditions contribute to the development of type II diabetes 1
Additional Considerations
- Prediabetes: blood sugar levels above normal but below diabetic thresholds increase risk 1
- Metabolic syndrome: this condition, characterized by high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and excess body fat, elevates risk 1
- Poor diet: consumption of processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and sugary beverages contributes to insulin resistance and obesity 1
Screening and Prevention
- Regular screening is recommended for those with multiple risk factors, as early detection allows for lifestyle modifications that can prevent or delay diabetes onset 1
- Lifestyle modifications, such as intensive diet and exercise or surgical weight loss, can lead to diabetes remission 1
From the Research
Risk Factors for Type II Diabetes
- Genetic risk factors, such as a strong family history of diabetes mellitus, contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus 2
- Environmental risk factors, including poor dietary and exercise habits, also play a significant role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus 2
- Metabolic risk factors, such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and atherogenic dyslipidemia, increase a person's risk for developing impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus 2
- Obesity is identified as the most important and significant risk factor in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus in all age groups 3
- A positive family history of type 2 diabetes is associated with developing risk awareness and engaging in risk-reducing behaviors among the unaffected relatives 4
- Minority populations, such as Americans of African ancestry, are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to genetic, environmental, and metabolic risk factors 5
- Women with a history of gestational diabetes and their children are at greater risk for progressing to type 2 diabetes mellitus 2
- Physical inactivity and age are also significant risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus 2
- A first-degree family history of type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for incident diabetes, and the presence of any first-degree relative with type 2 diabetes does not discriminate risk in Americans of African ancestry given the high race-specific prevalence of diabetes 5
- The number of affected relatives confers incremental risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, with a higher number of affected relatives associated with a greater risk 5
- A combined approach of diet, exercise, and lifestyle modifications can successfully reduce obesity and subsequently ameliorate the ill effects and deadly complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus 3
- Adults with a family history of one cardiometabolic condition exhibited 1.1 to 5.6 times the odds of having a different cardiometabolic condition, such as type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease 6