Myths About Who Gets Diabetes

Diabetes has no single cause, like a cake with many ingredients. Sugar alone does not cause type 1 or type 2.

Type 2 has several causes. These include genes, insulin resistance, body weight, activity and sleep. Insulin resistance means cells respond less to insulin.

In type 1, the immune system, your body's defense, destroys beta cells. Beta cells make insulin.

A doctor stands beside a big card. For the myth the card has a yellow border, a big question mark and a Myth tag. Then the card flips and the question mark turns into a tick. For the fact the card has a green border, a big green tick and a Fact tag.

Body size is one piece of the picture. A slim person can develop type 2, and so can someone of any size. Extra weight raises type 2 risk, but it does not decide who gets it.

Having a relative with type 2 can raise your risk. So can low activity, even when you are young.

Type 1 can start at any age. It can begin in a baby, a teen, an adult or an older person.

Many people think type 1 only affects children. Age does not limit it.

Type 2 can start young too. It is rising in children and teens.

Key takeaways

• Diabetes is not caused by one thing, and sugar alone does not cause type 1 or type 2.
• Body size does not decide who gets type 2, since people of any size can develop it.
• Type 1 can begin at any age, and type 2 is rising in young people.

Try it

Ask a close relative if anyone in your family has type 2. Write down the answer for your next checkup.