Diabetes Q and A
High risk factors include:
- Those with family members who have diabetes (blood relative)
- Older age (type 2 diabetes is more common as people get older). About one in ten people have diabetes over the age of 20, but for people aged 60 and older, one in five have diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- Sedentary lifestyle (not much physical activity)
- History of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
- Certain ethnic groups have a higher incidence of diabetes - African Americans, American Indians, some Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanic Americans
Symptoms may include:
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Dry mouth
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Headache
It is important to know that often, people with diabetes or pre-diabetes have no symptoms until health complications occur. Actually, about one-third of all people who have type 2 diabetes don’t know they have it. If you are at high risk for developing diabetes, speak to your health care provider.