Living well with Diabetes: Manage your health

Common Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes

In India, it is predicted that 77 million individuals over the age of 18 have type 2 diabetes, and that almost 25 million are prediabetics (with an increased risk of developing the disease in the near future).¹

More than 50% of people do not know they have diabetes, which can cause serious health problems if not caught early and managed. Adults with diabetes are two to three times more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke.¹

In India, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes was reported to be 48.4%.²

Risk factors for Diabetes³

Some diabetes risk factors can be controlled by the lifestyle choices one makes. These are called modifiable risk factors. Those that you cannot change are non-modifiable risk factors.³

Non-modifiable Risk Factors

• Family history: Some risk factors for diabetes are passed down from our parents or other close biological relatives.
• Age: The risk of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes increases with age.
• Gestational diabetes: If you had diabetes while you were pregnant, you are more likely to get it again later in life.

Modifiable Risk Factors

• Weight: Obesity and overweight people are more likely to get diabetes. Along with engaging in regular physical activity, losing 5% to 10% of your body weight can considerably lower your chance of having diabetes.
• Blood pressure: Untreated high blood pressure has been related to issues from diabetes in addition to harming the cardiovascular system. Blood pressure levels for people with diabetes and HBP should be less than 130/80 mmHg.
• Cholesterol (lipid) levels: Diabetes is linked to blood vessel disease and atherosclerosis, which is the hardening of the arteries. The risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease can be raised by having low HDL "good" cholesterol and/or high triglycerides.
• Smoking: If you smoke, you can stop using it with the use of numerous aids, medications, and online resources.