It’s estimated that some eight million Americans are living with type 2 diabetes and don’t even know it. So what are the risk factors for this disease that you should be aware of? Here are 10 things to look at when assessing your risk for type 2 diabetes:
- Family history
There is a predisposition to type 2 diabetes that must be inherited in order for the disease to develop. If this predisposition runs in your family, your risk increases.
- Weight
People carrying additional weight also carry added pressure on their body’s ability to control blood sugar levels through insulin and are therefore at a higher risk for developing diabetes.
- Age
The demographic that is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the highest rate is those aged 45-64. Our metabolism slows at this age, causing our risk for diabetes to go up.
- Race
African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Asian Americans are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes while Native Americans are nearly twice as likely as Caucasians to develop the disease.
- Gestational diabetes
Developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy can further open the door for type 2 diabetes in the future. And giving birth to a larger-than-average baby can put a mother at an increased risk for developing diabetes later in life.
- Lifestyle
In addition to heightening your chances of developing obesity, a sedentary lifestyle can cause your muscles to become inflamed through a lack of use. And this inflammation of muscles can lead to diabetes.
- High blood pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, causes your blood to pump through your body at too rapid of a speed and has shown to have a connection to type 2 diabetes.
- Gluten intolerance
People who have an intolerance of gluten may be at an increased risk for developing diabetes.
- Poor sleeping habits
A lack of sleep can lead to weight gain and obesity, which serve as triggers for diabetes.
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
This condition, characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, excess hair growth, and obesity, can put women at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes.
Lower Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
The risk factors for type 2 diabetes may be scary, but they are also reversible. Dynamic Health helps people just like you lower their risk for diabetes through a dedicated weight management program along with helping those who have already been diagnosed with the disease.
Contact us today to get started on a healthier tomorrow.