Risk factors for type 2 diabetes
Could you be at greater risk?
There are many risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. Having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will get type 2 diabetes. It means that you should speak with your health care provider about changes you can make in your lifestyle to manage your risk and possibly avoid developing diabetes.
Common risk factors include the following:
- Being age 40 or older
- Being overweight or obese
- Having a family member such as a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
- Being a member of a high-risk ethnic group such as African American, Asian American, Hispanic, and Native American
- People who have had gestational diabetes
- A history of heart disease
- Having blood pressure of 140/90 or higher
Additional risks for people with type 2 diabetes
Know your cardiovascular and stroke risks
Another important thing to consider is that with type 2 diabetes, there’s up to a
4x
GREATER RISK OF
stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular death
In fact, it’s the #1 cause of death for people with diabetes.
Watch this video to see how diabetes is linked to heart health. Or you can read about it here.
