What Raises Your Risk

The main factors that raise the chance of type 2 diabetes, and why they matter for testing.

You can list the main factors that raise the chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

Some things can raise your chance of type 2 diabetes. Family history is one. If a close relative has it, your chance may be higher.

Age matters too. Risk often goes up as you get older.

Extra weight, mostly around the belly, also raises risk.

Low physical activity and high blood pressure also raise risk.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that starts during pregnancy. If you had it in a past pregnancy, your risk may be higher.

PCOS is a condition where the body's chemical messengers, called hormones, are out of balance. It affects the ovaries and can raise your risk too.

Some health issues can change a test result. Illness and some medicines can raise blood sugar for a time.

Kidney disease and some kinds of anemia can change an A1C. Anemia means too few healthy red blood cells.

So tell your doctor your full health story. It helps decide how often to check you.

Key takeaways

Family history, age and body weight are among the main risk factors.
Low activity, high blood pressure, past gestational diabetes and PCOS also raise risk.
Some conditions and medicines can affect blood sugar tests, so your full history matters.

Ask one relative today whether diabetes runs in your family, and jot down what they say.