Check This Out: Are You At Risk Of Diabetes?

Diabetes refers to a group of metabolic disease in which the patient’s ability to use blood sugar for energy is affected. Diabetes has three types: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed early in childhood. It makes the body unable to produce insulin, which is a vital hormone to utilize blood sugar in the body. Insufficient insulin could lead to extra blood sugar and body damage.

Type 2 diabetes makes the body unable to use insulin properly. Unlike type 1 diabetes,  patients suffering from type 2 diabetes can produce some insulin, but they cannot make enough to keep up with rising blood sugar levels. Doctors associate type 2 diabetes with lifestyle-related factors like obesity.

Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that causes women to have very high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.

What genetic factors affect diabetes risk?

The cause of type 1 diabetes has not been clearly explained. Family history of type 1 diabetes could be a risk factor. For example, a man having type 1 diabetes will face a 1 in 17 risk for having a child developing type 1 diabetes. Similarly, a woman with type 1 diabetes will probably risk having a child with type 1 diabetes. Women with type 1 diabetes who give birth at age 25 or older have a 1% risk of having a child with type 1 diabetes.

Having a parent with type 2 diabetes also increases diabetes risk. Because diabetes is often related to lifestyle choices, parents may pass on poor health habits to their children, which poses greater This risk for getting type 2 diabetes.

A child with both parents that have type 2 diabetes has a 50% chance of getting type 2 diabetes. Children whose one parent has type 2 diabetes diagnosed before age 50 have a 1 in 7 chance of getting diabetes.

Women have a greater chance of getting gestational diabetes if they have a close relative with diabetes.

What environmental factors affect diabetes risk?

In some cases, type 1 diabetes may be triggered by an unknown type of virus. People living in cold climate are more likely to have type 1 diabetes. Doctors also diagnose patients with type 1 diabetes more often in the winter than in the summer.

What lifestyle factors affect diabetes risk?

Diet

Babies who were not breastfed or who were fed with solid food at an early age risk having diabetes. So does people with unhealthy diets.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle factors can be responsible for diabetes, including obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking.

What medical conditions affect diabetes risk?

People with the following conditions are more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes:

• Acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition that makes the skin appear darker than usual;
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) greater than 140/90 mmHg;
• High cholesterol greater;
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS);
• Prediabetes or blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not at diabetes levels;
• Triglyceride levels that are 250 or greater.

Gestational diabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes if the women give birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more.

What age-related factors affect diabetes risk?

People are more likely to get diabetes as they age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adults aging from 45 get a diabetes test, especially overweight people.

Having some risk factors does not mean a person will definitely develop diabetes. After all, the most important factor lies in each person lifestyle choices. In order to stay healthy, it is advisable to keep a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet.