Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors

We still don't know exactly what causes diabetes, but scientists have a good idea of who is most likely to develop it

Diabetes is increasing among all racial groups in the U.S. due to more people who are overweight and who get little or no physical activity, but the diabetes rates are highest among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN)
According the IHS, at least 15% of all American Indians/Alaska Natives have diabetes
Some American Indian tribes (Tohono O'Odham, Pascua Yaqui) have the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world
- As many as 50% of adult Tohono O'Odham have Type 2 Diabetes
American Diabetes Association says that there are over 18 million people with diabetes
There may be more but many have no symptoms and are undiagnosed

Type 2 diabetes is usually found in adults, but today AI/AN children are being diagnosed more often with type 2 diabetes, even as young as 5 years old
- This is largely due to so many AI/AN children being overweight and less active

Being "at risk" means that you have a greater likelihood of developing a problem or condition than the average person
Sometimes knowing that you are at increased risk gives you the opportunity to avoid the problem
This is the case with diabetes
What makes someone more at risk?
- ALL overweight adults and adolescents
- Family history of diabetes
- High blood fats (also called 'lipids'), such as high cholesterol or high triglycerides
- High blood pressure
- High fat diet
- Little or no physical activity
- History of gestational diabetes (diabetes of pregnancy)
- History of giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- Having skin changes where the skin (especially around the back of the neck and armpits) becomes darker and velvety - called acanthosis nigricans
- Being American Indian or Alaska Native
  - Because of the high rates of diabetes in American Indians and Alaska Natives all overweight adolescents and adults should be screened yearly for pre-diabetes and diabetes

Modern life has added to the increase in the number of people being overweight because they are not physically active
There has been a decrease in such daily activities such as farming, hunting, gathering, gardening, walking
Being overweight is a risk for diabetes
Being overweight increases blood sugar
This is why people with diabetes are asked to lose weight
Daily physical activity combined with healthy eating can lower body weight and lower blood sugar
Weight gain is a risk for diabetes
In many people as the weight goes up, the blood sugar goes up: from normal to pre-diabetes to diabetes
If you already have diabetes, the higher your weight, the higher the blood sugar is likely to be, unless you manage your diabetes well
To control your weight increase your physical activity every day and ask a nutritionist to help you with your diet
The high calorie diet
- Will raise your blood sugar
- Will increase your weight
Ask your health care provider to refer you to a nutritionist to evaluate your diet and help you plan a healthier way of eating
Being inactive is a risk for diabetes:
- Physical activity is one of the most important factors in preventing and managing diabetes.
- Ask your health care provider for an exercise prescription to help you control
  - Your blood sugar
  - Your blood pressure
  - Your cholesterol
  - Your weight

It has been shown that the higher your blood quantum, the more likely you are to develop diabetes
- If you are full-blood, you're more likely to get type 2 diabetes than someone who is only 1/4
It is not clear why there is this genetic difference, but one theory is that at one time when food was not always plentiful, the body adjusted for these lean times by storing extra fat for this purpose
- Trauma, stress, physical illnesses
- Physical trauma, like being in a car accident, experiencing physical illness or extreme stress, can also trigger diabetes
- Sometimes emotional trauma or stress from dealing with cancer or other threatening diseases can bring on diabetes