Are You at Risk for Diabetes?

Anyone can get diabetes at any age, but there are some factors that increase your risk of developing diabetes.  Some common risk factors include:

• Age (over 45 years)

• Being overweight/obese

• Injury to pancreas
  

• Being inactive

• Autoimmune disease

• Smoking

• Family history (having a sibling or parent with diabetes)

• Ethnicity (Alaska Natives, American Indians, African Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and persons of Hispanic/Latino descent are more likely to develop diabetes)

• High blood pressure (over 140/90 is considered “high risk”)

• High cholesterol and/or triglycerides

• History of gestational diabetes or delivery of at least one baby weighing more than nine pounds

If you have one or more of the above risk factors, you are at higher risk for developing diabetes.  Talk to your doctor about your risk, and about how you can work to prevent diabetes.