Learn More: Diabetes
Risk Factors
Take the RealAge Type 2 Diabetes Health Assessment to learn your risk for diabetes.
The number of people with diabetes is on the rise worldwide, and while it's still unclear exactly what causes diabetes to develop in some people and not in others, several genetic and lifestyle factors are known to increase a person's risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Age: Being 45 or older is considered a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and the risk continues to increase with age.
- Ethnic background: People whose ethnic background is African American, Asian American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Latino/Hispanic, or Pacific Islander have an increased risk of diabetes.
- Family history of diabetes: Having a parent or sibling with diabetes raises your risk.
- Physical inactivity: A lack of regular physical activity (defined as 30 minutes a day, 3–5 days a week) increases your risk.
- Overweight and obesity: Having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Check your BMI.
- Gestational diabetes: Women with a history of gestational diabetes or who've given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- PCOS: Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have a greater risk of diabetes.
- Hypertension: Having high blood pressure or taking blood pressure medication increases your risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Low HDL cholesterol: HDL is the good cholesterol, so higher numbers are better. An HDL level of 35 mg/dL (0.9 mmol/L) or lower is a risk factor for diabetes.
- High triglycerides: A triglyceride level of 250 mg/dL (2.82 mmol/L) or more raises your risk for type 2 diabetes.
Find out what you can do to reduce your risk of diabetes.
