It’s caused by problems with a chemical in the body (hormone) called insulin. It’s often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes.
What is the most common cause of type 2 diabetes?
Overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity – You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are not physically active and are overweight or have obesity, Extra weight sometimes causes insulin resistance and is common in people with type 2 diabetes.
Who gets type 2 diabetes the most?
Who is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes? – You can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. However, type 2 diabetes occurs most often in middle-aged and older people. You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are age 45 or older, have a family history of diabetes, or are overweight or have obesity,
Diabetes is more common in people who are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander. Physical inactivity and certain health problems such as high blood pressure affect your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. You are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you have prediabetes or had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant.
Learn more about risk factors for type 2 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes occurs most often in middle-aged and older people.
What is worse than type 2 diabetes?
Which type of diabetes is the worst? – Type 1 diabetes is considered worse than type 2 because it is an autoimmune disease, so there isn’t a cure. Also, in a 2010 report⁴ from the UK, it’s estimated that the life expectancy of people with type 2 diabetes can be reduced by up to 10 years, while type 1 can reduce life expectancy by 20 years or more.
What is the average age of someone with type 2 diabetes?
The average age of onset for type 2 diabetes. The onset of type 2 diabetes is most common in people aged 45–64. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90–95% of the adult diagnoses of diabetes in the United States.
Is type 2 diabetes only caused by lifestyle?
You can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes with proven, achievable lifestyle changes—such as losing a small amount of weight and being more physically active—even if you’re at high risk. There’s more to why people get type 2 diabetes than you may know. Although lifestyle is a big part, so are family history, age, and race.
Learn about what causes type 2 diabetes and how you can help lower your risk. You’ve probably heard the expression, “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” In the same way we can’t tell what’s inside a book without reading it, we can’t look at a person and know if they’re at risk of type 2 diabetes. It’s true that being overweight is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, but your family history, age, and race are risk factors too.
Learn about what causes type 2 diabetes, and how you can help lower your risk.