Are You at Risk?
Risk Factors
Type 1
The causes of type 1 diabetes are largely
unknown. Risk factors currently under study are exposure
to cow's milk in infancy and infections of various kinds.
Type 2
The more risk factors an individual has, the greater
his/her likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Individuals with any
of the above risk factors should talk to a health professional about how
to lower their risk, and discuss whether testing
is needed.
Obesity
An excessively high body weight increases diabetes risk. The Body
Mass Index (BMI) is a simple, widely accepted means of assessing body
weight in relation to health for most people aged 20 to 65 (Exceptions
include people who are very muscular, athletes, pregnant or nursing.)
A BMI greater than 27 indicates a risk for developing type 2 diabetes,
and other health problems which include cardiovascular disease, and premature
death. As the implications of the BMI are not the same for everyone, you
should discuss your BMI with your physician if it is too high (or too
low) according to the chart.
Apple-shaped figure
Individuals who carry most of their weight in the trunk of their bodies
(i.e., above the hips) tend to have a higher risk of diabetes than those
of similar weight with a pear-shaped body (excess fat carried mainly in
the hips and thighs). A waist measurement of more than 100 cm (39.5 inches)
in men and 95 cm (37.5 inches) in women suggests an increased risk.
Age
Age
increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. Canadian data for 1996/97 show
that the prevalence rate of diabetes in those aged 65 and over (10.4%)
is three times as high as the rate in those 35 to 64 (3.2%).
While most diabetes occurs in older persons, it should
be noted that the appearance of type 2 diabetes in children is increasingly
being reported in the medical literature. In Canada, the problem is particularly
apparent among Aboriginal children, mainly girls. In some communities,
the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Aboriginal females aged 10 to12
years has been reported to be 3.6%.
Sedentary lifestyle
Being overweight - another risk factor for Type 2 - can be prevented by
regular physical activity. A second, independent benefit of regular physical
activity is improved blood sugar control in persons who already have type
2 diabetes.
Family History
The genetic link for type 2 diabetes is stronger than the genetic link
for type 1. Having a blood relative with type 2 diabetes increases the
risk. If that person is a first-degree relative (e.g., a parent, sibling
or child), the risk is even higher.
History of Diabetes in Pregnancy
Nearly 40 percent of the women who have diabetes during their pregnancy
go on to develop type 2 diabetes later, usually within five to ten years
of giving birth. Giving birth to a baby that weighs more than nine pounds
(4 kg) is another symptom of gestational
diabetes.
Impaired Glucose Tolerance
Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose can precede the
development of type 2 diabetes. These conditions are determined through
blood tests. While persons affected with these problems do not meet the
diagnostic criteria for diabetes, their blood sugar control and reaction
to sugar loads are considered to be abnormal. This places them at higher
risk, not just for the development of type 2 diabetes (an estimated one
in ten progress to type 2 diabetes within five years), but also for cardiovascular
disease. For this group, preventive strategies -- including lifestyle
changes and regular screening for diabetes mellitus -- must be a priority.
Ethnic Ancestry
Being of Aboriginal, African, Latin American or Asian ethnic ancestry
increases the risk of developing of type 2 diabetes. Risk levels for these
groups are between two and six times higher than for Canadians of Caucasian
origin.
High Blood Pressure
Up to 60 percent of people with undiagnosed diabetes have high blood pressure.
High Cholesterol or other fats
in the blood
More than 40 percent of people with diabetes have abnormal levels of cholesterol
and similar fatty substances that circulate in the blood. These abnormalities
appear to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease
among persons with diabetes.
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