There are different types of diabetes, and the most common types are Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes means your body simply does not make insulin. It’s typically diagnosed in children and young adults, and requires daily insulin to survive.
Most people, however, are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which means your body does not make or use insulin as it should. Type 2 diabetes is linked to a variety of genetic factors:
- Age — Your risk for Type 2 diabetes increases as you get older.
- Gender — Men have a slightly higher risk of diabetes than women.
- Race/Ethnicity — African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders are at higher risk.
- Weight — Being overweight can increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
- Inactivity — The more physically active you are, the lower your risk is.
- Smoking/Drinking — If you smoke or drink more than one drink a day (women) or two drinks a day (men), your risk of Type 2 diabetes is greater.