Diabetes is one of the most common health issues throughout the world. And when it comes to India, it had more diabetics than any other country in the world. According to the International Diabetes Foundation, although India has been exceeding China. Diabetes currently affects approximately more than 62 million Indians, which is around than 7.1% of the adult population of India. So, to prevent ourselves from the disease we should aware of all risk factor of type 2 diabetes.

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Know the Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes

Here, is the list of risk factors of type 2 diabetes, the one should aware of these factors to prevent yourself from diabetes.

Family History

Family history or genetics are the most common risk factor of type 2 diabetes, if you have relatives with diabetes, then you have higher chances of getting diabetes, too. Anyone who has a father, mother, sister, or brother with type 2 diabetes should get checked.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes, it is also a type of diabetes which affects pregnant women, especially during the second or third trimester.
If you have gestational diabetes, then it becomes important to have your blood sugar levels tested regularly after because it increased the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Smoking

Smoking is linked with a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, and also increases the risk of other health conditions like heart disease and cancer. There is a lot of supportive option available if you are trying to stop smoking.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS, it is a condition that affects your ovaries. As we know, ovaries are part of the female reproductive system which stores and release eggs which are ready to be fertilized. Each egg develops in a small fluid-filled swelling called a follicle before it is released by the ovary. Women who are dealing with PCOS are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. PCOS is also resistance with insulin resistance and therefore higher levels of insulin circulating in the blood.

Mental Health Conditions

Certain mental health issues are also a risk factor of Type 2 diabetes, which includes:

• Schizophrenia

• Bipolar disorder

• Depression

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

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Sedentary Lifestyle

If you spend most of the time while sitting, then it is known as a ‘sedentary’ lifestyle. It increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. So, 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 from being physically inactive. Being ‘physically inactive’ means that you are not doing enough physical activity. While being ‘sedentary’ means lying down or sitting for long periods.

Examples of sedentary behavior are:

• Working at a desk for long periods without any physical activity

• Sitting down while studying at school or home

• A habit of sitting or lying down while watching television or playing video games.

• Sitting while driving, or while traveling

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol too much is linked with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. According to current guidelines, it is recommended not regularly drinking more than 14 units per week and even these units should be spread evenly over 3-4 days.

Sleep

If you are not taking sound sleep in the night then this can be associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Both, not getting sufficient sleep, or sleeping for very long have been associated with an increased risk. Many things can affect how long and how well we sleep, some tips for a good night sleep can be found here.

Conclusion:

Here, we have discussed the various risk factors of type 2 diabetes, if you are having any of the risk factors then you should consult a doctor and get a regular check of blood sugar level.

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