Diabetes risk factors.
Although any person can be diagnosed with diabetes, some particular  groups
of people are more susceptible to the disease than others. Therefore, the following major
risk factors must be taken in consideration.
 Age. Individuals of forty five
years and older can develop diabetes more often.
Excessive body weight or
obesity. Overweight
and especially excess weight around the waist increases the risk for diabetes.
Measurement of more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women or 102 and
90 centimeters respectively is a crucial risk factor.
Hereditary background. Anybody
who has a relative of first degree with diabetes must be double cautious. The same thing
applies, if the individual is of African, American Indian, Asian or Hispanic/Latino
origin.
Pregnancy problems and facts.
A woman, who has had gestational diabetes or has given birth to at least one baby
weighing more than nine pounds, may develop type 2
diabetes at a later stage of her life.
High blood pressure. If this
is 140/90mm Hg or higher, the person must be alert.
Inadequate vitamin E supply with meals. In
such a case, specific instructions about the weekly dose must be followed.
Inadequate production of
vitamin D. Studies in San Diego revealed
that children, who live in areas with limited sunshine and consequently their body
produces less vitamin D, are more likely to develop type
1 diabetes.
Blood test figures beyond
borderlines must make the individual alert. Such figures are:
LDL-cholesterol (bad) higher than
240mg/dL, although some experts believe this figure should be no more than
190mg/dL.
HDL-cholesterol (good) less than 40mg/dL
for men and 50mg/dL for women.
Triglyceride level 150mg/dL or higher. The
importance of blood triglyceride level has not fully understood yet. However, statistics
show that people having 150mg/dL or higher are prone to diabetes.
Fasting blood glucose levels of 100mg/dL or
higher.
Sedentary lifestyle. This risk
factor applies to people who exercise less than three times a week.
Medical history of polycystic
ovary disease. A woman with such a history may be more prone to diabetes.
Medical history of vascular
disease such as a stroke. These patients must be monitored on a regular basis.
Depressive symptoms for a long
time. Surveys have shown that people with this kind of problems are at significant risk
to develop diabetes.
Anyone, to whom one or more than the above key risk factors apply, should consider
getting tested for diabetes. If the person is forty five or older and overweight, it is
strongly recommended for him/her to be screened. If somebody is younger than forty five,
overweight, and presents one or more of the above risk factors, should consider been
tested, especially if any of diabetes signs and
symptoms coexist. If blood glucose
level is higher than normal but less than the diabetes figures, prediabetes may be present. In such
a case, blood glucose level must be monitored every one or two years.
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