Am I at risk of developing diabetes

Approximately 537 million adults (20-79 years) are living with diabetes.

The total number of people living with diabetes is projected to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045.

3 in 4 adults with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries

Almost 1 in 2 (240 million) adults living with diabetes are undiagnosed

Diabetes caused 6.7 million deaths.

We do know research has consistently shown that for some people, combined lifestyle interventions - including diet, physical activity and sustained weight loss - can be effective in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes by about 50%. We're here to support you.

About 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. It can come on slowly, usually over the age of 40. The signs may not be obvious, or there may be no signs at all, therefore it might be up to 10 years before you find out you have it. 

That’s why it’s very important to know the diabetes risk factors.

Your risk increases with age. You’re more at risk if you’re white and over 40 or over 25 if you’re African-Caribbean, Black African, or South Asian

You’re two to six times more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you have a parent, brother, sister or child with diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is two to four times more likely in people of South Asian descent and African-Caribbean or Black African descent.

You’re more at risk of type 2 diabetes if you’re carrying extra weight, especially if this weight is around your middle. This means the risk is higher for BMI over 30.0 and a circumference of more than 80cm for women and more than 100cm for men around the widest part of your stomach. 

Smoking is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, and also increases the risk of other health conditions such as heart disease and cancer.

Women who have PCOS are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. PCOS is associated with insulin resistance and therefore higher levels of insulin circulating in the blood.

If you are receiving treatment with antipsychotic medication this can also increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, but the risk is quite low.

If you spend long periods of time sitting,(this does not include sleeping) this is known as a ‘sedentary’ lifestyle. Being sedentary is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. It is important to remember that even if you do the recommended amount of exercise per week you can still have a sedentary lifestyle. This is because being sedentary is different to being physically inactive. 

Being ‘physically inactive’ means not doing enough physical activity. 

Being ‘sedentary’ means sitting or lying down for long periods. 

Examples of a sedentary behaviours include:

• Working at a desk for long periods without standing up
• Sitting down while studying at school or home
• Sitting or lying down while watching television or playing video games.
• Sitting while driving a vehicle, or while travelling

Drinking too much alcohol is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

If you have disturbed sleep this can be associated with an increased the risk of type 2 diabetes. Not getting enough sleep, or sleeping for too long have been associated with an increased risk.