Risk Factors for Diabetes
Risk Factors for Diabetes
Generally, the risk of developing diabetes increases with age. The disease can also affect women during pregnancy, leading to complications for both mother and child. Certain population groups, notably indigenous Australians and some ethnic groups, have higher rates of diabetes. Many cases of Type 2 diabetes could be prevented or delayed through simple lifestyle changes that lower the risks of diabetes and other chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. These risks include excess weight, poor diet, inactivity, smoking and too much alcohol.
Increased Age
It’s a sad but true fact. The older we get, the greater our risk of type 2 diabetes. Even if an elderly person is thin, they still may be predisposed to getting diabetes. Scientists theorize that the pancreas ages right along with us, and doesn’t pump insulin as efficiently as it did when we were younger. Also, as our cells age, they become more resistant to insulin as well.
Tobacco
Tobacco use can increase blood sugar levels and lead to insulin resistance. In addition, chemicals, such as nornicotine, found in tobacco may increase the risk of diabetes. In fact, heavy smokers — those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day — more than triple their risk of developing diabetes.
Obesity
An excessively high body weight increases diabetes risk. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple, widely accepted means of assessing body weight in relation to health for most people aged 20 to 65 (Exceptions include people who are very muscular, athletes, pregnant or nursing.) A BMI greater than 27 indicates a risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and other health problems which include cardiovascular disease, and premature death. As the implications of the BMI are not the same for everyone, you should discuss your BMI with your physician if it is too high (or too low) according to the chart.
Being overweight:
If you are overweight, defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25, you’re at higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Hypertension:
High blood pressure increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Abnormal cholesterol levels:
HDL (”good”) cholesterol levels under 35 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) and/or a triglyceride level over 250 mg/dL increases your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Eating badly:
Eating unhealthily is a major cause of type 2 diabetes, as over 90 per cent of type 2 diabetics are overweight. Eating badly is a major contributor to diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Eating too much fat, too many simple carbohydrates, and not enough fibre makes a diabetes diagnosis all the much more likely. Eating well, in conjunction with exercise, can prevent or reverse the development of type 2 diabetes.
Aging:
As the population of the world ages, diabetes rates are soaring. Unfortunately, the older we are, the greater the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is. The pancreas, according to some scientists, begins to pump insulin less effectively as we age. Furthermore, bodily resistance to insulin increases with age.
Cholesterol:
Cholesterol as a risk factor for other medical conditions.High cholesterol is a serious condition. There are various other conditions for which cholesterol-related conditions are a risk factor. For general information on high cholesterol, see also high cholesterol, complications of high cholesterol, and high cholesterol as a symptom.
