Diabetes Risk Factors | CDC

Learn about risk factors for different types of diabetes and what you can do to prevent type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes. Skipdirectlytositecontent Skipdirectlytopageoptions SkipdirectlytoA-Zlink Diabetes SectionNavigation CDCHome Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate DiabetesRiskFactorsEspañol(Spanish) Minus RelatedPages Knowtheriskfactorsfordifferenttypesofdiabetes. Type1Diabetes Type1diabetesisthoughttobecausedbyanimmunereaction(thebodyattacksitselfbymistake).Riskfactorsfor type1diabetesarenotasclearasforprediabetesandtype2diabetes.Knownriskfactorsinclude: Familyhistory:Havingaparent,brother,orsisterwithtype1diabetes. Age:Youcangettype1diabetesatanyage,butit’smorelikelytodevelopwhenyou’reachild,teen,oryoungadult. IntheUnitedStates,whitesaremorelikelytodeveloptype1diabetesthanAfricanAmericansandHispanic/LatinoAmericans. Currently,nooneknowshowtopreventtype1diabetes. Type2Diabetes You’reatriskfordeveloping type2diabetesifyou: Haveprediabetes Areoverweight Are45yearsorolder Haveaparent,brother,orsisterwithtype2diabetes Arephysicallyactivelessthan3timesaweek Haveeverhadgestationaldiabetes(diabetesduringpregnancy)orgivenbirthtoababywhoweighedmorethan9pounds AreAfricanAmerican,Hispanic/LatinoAmerican,AmericanIndian,orAlaskaNative(somePacificIslandersandAsianAmericansarealsoathigherrisk) Ifyouhavenon-alcoholicfattyliverdiseaseyoumayalsobeatriskfortype2diabetes. Youcanpreventordelaytype2diabeteswithsimple,proven lifestylechangessuchaslosingweightifyou’reoverweight,eatinghealthier,andgettingregularphysicalactivity. Prediabetes You’reatriskfordevelopingprediabetes ifyou: Areoverweight Are45yearsorolder Haveaparent,brother,orsisterwithtype2diabetes Arephysicallyactivelessthan3timesaweek Haveeverhadgestationaldiabetes(diabetesduringpregnancy)orgivenbirthtoababywhoweighedmorethan9pounds AreAfricanAmerican,Hispanic/LatinoAmerican,AmericanIndian,orAlaskaNative(somePacificIslandersandAsianAmericansarealsoathigherrisk) Youcanpreventorreverseprediabeteswithsimple,provenlifestylechangessuchaslosingweightifyou’reoverweight,eatinghealthier,andgettingregularphysicalactivity.TheCDC-ledNationalDiabetesPreventionProgram canhelpyoumakehealthychangesthathavelastingresults. GestationalDiabetes You’reatriskfordeveloping gestationaldiabetes(diabeteswhilepregnant)ifyou: Hadgestationaldiabetesduringapreviouspregnancy Havegivenbirthtoababywhoweighedmorethan9pounds Areoverweight Aremorethan25yearsold Haveafamilyhistoryoftype2diabetes Haveahormonedisordercalled polycysticovarysyndrome(PCOS) AreAfricanAmerican,Hispanic/LatinoAmerican,AmericanIndian,AlaskaNative,NativeHawaiian,orPacificIslander Gestationaldiabetesusuallygoesawayafteryourbabyisbornbutincreasesyourriskfortype2diabeteslaterinlife.Yourbabyismorelikelytohaveobesityasachildorteen,andismorelikelytodeveloptype2diabeteslaterinlifetoo. Beforeyougetpregnant,youmaybeabletopreventgestationaldiabetesbylosingweightifyou’reoverweight,eatinghealthier,andgettingregularphysicalactivity. LearnMoreDiabetesandMenDiabetesandWomenHispanic/LatinoAmericansandType2DiabetesDiabetesandAsianAmericansPCOS(PolycysticOvarySyndrome)andDiabetes Pagelastreviewed:April23,2021 Contentsource: CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention homeDiabetesHomeDiabetesBasicsplusiconWhatisDiabetes?DiabetesRiskFactorsplusiconPCOS(PolycysticOvarySyndrome)andDiabetesDiabetesSymptomsPrediabetesType1DiabetesplusiconWhatIsType1Diabetes?JustDiagnosedTypesofInsulin4WaysToTakeInsulinLowBloodSugar(Hypoglycemia)HowToTreatLowBloodSugarDiabeticKetoacidosisMakingtheLeapFromType1TeentoAdultManagingDiabetesatSchoolType2DiabetesplusiconInsulinResistanceandDiabetesGestationalDiabetesDiabetesTestsDiabetesFastFactsPreventType2plusiconLost170PoundsandRegainedHisLifeOnYourWaytoPreventingType2DiabetesPreventType2DiabetesinKidsLivingWithDiabetesplusiconEducationandSupportEatWellplusiconDiabetesMealPlanningGroceryShoppingFoodLabelsEatingOutCarbCountingDiabetes&KidneyDisease:WhattoEat?HealthyWeightGetActive!ManageBloodSugarplusiconMonitoringYourBloodSugarAllAboutYourA1CPreventDiabetesComplicationsplusiconHeartDiseaseChronicKidneyDisease(CKD)NerveDamageplusiconDiabetesandDigestionFootHealthOralHealthHearingLossVisionLossMentalHealthManagingSickDaysYourDiabetesCareScheduleplusicon5QuestionstoAskYourHealthCareTeamDiabetesCareDuringEmergenciesDataandStatisticsplusiconFrequentlyAskedQuestionsNationalDiabetesStatisticsReportDiabetesReportCardDiabetesandObesityMapsInformationforProfessionalsplusiconDiabetesCareandEducationSpecialistsCommunity-basedOrganizations(CBO)InsurersHealthCareProvidersplusiconHowtoPromoteEarHealthforPeopleWithDiabetesHowtoPromoteEyeHealthforPeopleWithDiabetesHowtoPromoteFootHealthforPeopleWithDiabetesHowtoPromoteMedicationManagementforPeopleWithDiabetesHowtoPromoteOralHealthforPeopleWithDiabetesEmployersandWorksitesTrainingandCapacityBuildingResourcesandPublicationsplusiconReportsandPublicationsplusiconResearchArticlesandPublicationsFactSheetsInfographicsplusiconInfoCardsVideosandPodcastsFeaturesandSpotlightsEvaluationResourcesSocialMediaPressResearchplusiconAppliedResearchandSurveillanceModelingandEconomicsHealthPolicyandHealthServicesEffectivenessResearchGlobalProjectsPublicationsAboutUsAwarenessCampaignsplusiconCampaignYourHealthwithJoanLundenandCDCAdvancingHealthEquityplusiconBytheNumbers:DiabetesinAmericaIncreasingAccesstoType2DiabetesPreventionIncreasingAccesstoDiabetesEducationPromotingHealthandWellnessinIndianCountryAppalachianDiabetesControlandTranslationProject Social_govd govD GetEmailUpdates Toreceiveupdatesaboutdiabetestopics,enteryouremailaddress: EmailAddress What'sthis Submit DDTWebsitesDiabetesHomeState,Local,andNationalPartnerDiabetesProgramsNationalDiabetesPreventionProgramNativeDiabetesWellnessProgramChronicKidneyDiseaseVisionHealthInitiative RelatedCDCWebsitesHeartDiseaseandStrokeOverweight&Obesity Facebook Twitter LinkedIn SAS stats ExitNotification/DisclaimerPolicy Close LinkswiththisiconindicatethatyouareleavingtheCDCwebsite. 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