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Although researchers don't fully understand why some persons get diabetes and others don't, it is clear that certain factors increase your risk. You are at risk for having diabetes if:

• Your mother, father, sister, or brother has diabetes;
• You are African American, Hispanic American/Latino, American Indian, Native Alaskan, Asian American, or Pacific Islander;
• You have high blood pressure (at or above 130/80);
• You have a history of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) or gave birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth;
• You are overweight or obese;
• You are inactive or have a sedentary lifestyle; or
• You are older than 45 years of age.

If you have one or more of these risk factors, even if you are experiencing no symptoms, your doctor may want to test you for diabetes.

Additional Resources:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy933
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy076
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002072.htm