Risk Factors

Several factors contribute to a person's risk of developing diabetes. Scientists do not know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes, but they believe that both genetic factors and exposure to viruses are involved.

Risk factors that contribute to developing type 2 diabetes include:

• being overweight or obese;
• pre-diabetes;
• advanced age;
• physical inactivity;
• having high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol;
• having a family history of diabetes;
• belonging to certain high-risk ethnic populations (e.g. Aboriginal, African, Hispanic, Asian);
• having a history of gestational diabetes; and
• having other conditions which may include vascular disease, polycycstic ovary syndrome, acanthosis nigricans and schizophrenia

Additional Resources

Reducing the Risk of Diabetes