Although the causes of diabetes are unknown, the following risk factors may increase your chance of developing diabetes:
- A family history: If a parent or sibling in your family has diabetes, your risk of developing diabetes increases.
- Race or ethnic background: The risk of diabetes is greater in Hispanics, blacks, Native Americans, and Asians.
- Being overweight: If you are 20% or more over your optimal body weight, you increase your risk of developing diabetes.
- Hypertension: High blood pressure increases the risk of developing diabetes.
- Abnormal cholesterol levels: HDL, or "good" cholesterol levels under 45 mg/dL for men and 55 mg/dL for women, and/or a triglyceride level over 150 mg/dL increases your risk.
- Age: Your risk of developing diabetes increases progressively as you get older.
- Use of certain drugs: Blood pressure medications, such as thiazides; steroid medications, such as prednisone or Decadron; Hydantoin medications, such as Dilantin can increase the risk of diabetes.
- Alcohol use: Years of heavy alcohol intake increases your risk of developing diabetes.
- Smoking: According to one study, smoking from 16 to 25 cigarettes a day increases your risk for Type 2 diabetes to three times that of a non-smoker.
- History of gestational diabetes: Developing diabetes during pregnancy can increase your risk.
- Autoimmune disease: Can cause your body's immune system to attack healthy insulin-producing beta cells in your pancreas, increasing your risk of diabetes.
- Viruses: Some viruses are thought to play a part in diabetes development.
Although there is nothing you can do to prevent Type 1 diabetes, there are steps you can take to prevent Type 2 diabetes. Certain risk factors like age, family history, and ethnicity cannot be altered, but a change in lifestyle that includes a healthier diet and increased physical activity may help reduce your risk. In addition, if you have high blood pressure, are overweight, smoke, or use alcohol or drugs, you can help lower your risk by modifying your lifestyle. Your doctor can make specific recommendations that are right for you including diet changes, exercise, and medications to help you quit smoking or lower your weight and blood pressure.
Oral diabetes medicines help control blood glucose levels in people whose bodies still produce some insulin (the majority of people with Type 2 diabetes). These drugs are NOT insulin, and are usually prescribed to people with diabetes along with recommendations for making specific dietary changes and getting regular exercise. Often, several of these drugs are used in combination to achieve optimal blood glucose control.