Type 2 diabetes risk factors you can control (and those you can’t)
Your chances of developing type 2 diabetes depend on a combination of risk factors – some that you can control and others you can’t.[1] Type 2 diabetes risk factors that are outside of your control include, but may not be limited to:
Your age (risk goes up if you’re 45 years old or older)[1]
Your racial or ethnic background (risk goes up if you are Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander)[1]
Your family history (risk goes up if you have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes)[1]
If you have one or some of the above risk factors, don’t feel defeated. There are other type 2 diabetes risk factors you do have power over, including:
Your weight (risk goes down if you are at a healthy weight and BMI)[1]
Your activity levels (risk goes down if you get enough physical activity)[1]
Your blood pressure (risk goes down if you keep your blood pressure at a healthy level)[1]
Your cholesterol levels (risk goes down if you maintain healthy cholesterol and lipid levels)[1]
Ready to start taking steps to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes? Visit the American Diabetes Association’s prevention resources.
[1] Diabetes Risk. American Diabetes Association. https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-risk