Diabetes: Prevention and risk factors
On this page
Risk factors
There are several factors that contribute to a person's chance of developing diabetes. These factors can also affect a person's risk of complications and how they manage their condition.
Overall, men are more likely to have diabetes than women. However, diabetes rates among men and women differ for certain socioeconomic factors, including:
- income
- education level
- employment status
Socioeconomically disadvantaged populations are more likely to develop diabetes and are more susceptible to certain risk factors, such as:
- obesity
- cigarette smoking
- high blood pressure
Learn more:
- Terms related to diabetes
- The Canadian diabetes risk questionnaire
- Inequalities in diabetes and related risk factors
Prediabetes
You're at higher risk of developing prediabetes if you have:
- abdominal obesity
- a family history of type 2 diabetes
Lowering your risk of prediabetes and managing your blood glucose levels can help to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes later in life.
Type 1 diabetes
Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not well understood. They may include:
- age
- genetics
- environmental factors
Type 1 diabetes is not preventable.
Type 2 diabetes
Risk factors that contribute to developing type 2 diabetes include:
- prediabetes
- advanced age
- high cholesterol
- physical inactivity
- high blood pressure
- being overweight or obese
- a history of gestational diabetes
- a family history of type 2 diabetes
Evidence shows that type 2 and gestational diabetes are more prevalent in certain populations in Canada, including:
- Indigenous Peoples
- people of African, East Asian and South Asian backgrounds
This is often due to:
- family history
- cultural differences and inequities
- different opportunities and access to care
Your chance of developing type 2 diabetes also increases if you have other conditions like:
- schizophrenia
- vascular disease
- polycystic ovary syndrome
Prevention and reducing risks of diabetes
A healthy lifestyle can help to:
- prevent or delay diabetes complications
- lower the risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
Living a healthy lifestyle can also prevent other chronic conditions and improve your overall quality of life.
Health experts recognize that our ability to change our lifestyle and health habits is closely tied to several different factors. We can control some of these factors, but not others. Factors can include:
- age
- sex
- culture
- income
- education
- employment
- social supports
- where you live, work and play
There are many different ways to make healthy lifestyle changes:
- Don't smoke
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Get enough sleep and rest
- Eat a variety of healthy foods
- Be physically active every day
- Manage high blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose
You should also get screened or tested for diabetes regularly and report any new signs and symptoms to your healthcare provider. It's also important to have regular check-ups to measure your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. In many cases the earlier a health condition is detected, the easier it is to treat.
Learn more:
- Canada's Food Guide
- Physical activity and your health
- How to calculate your Body Mass Index
- Health effects of smoking and second-hand smoke