Who's At Risk?

For Type 1 diabetes, researchers are working hard to determine what causes Type 1 diabetes. It is known that if you have a family member (parent or sibling) who has Type 1 diabetes it slightly increases the risk, however they are still unclear on the definite risk factors.

Type 2 diabetes was once a condition that only affected adults, however we are now seeing it more teens and even children. Type 2 diabetes has increased in children all over the world in the last 20 years. Approximately 95 per cent of children with Type 2 diabetes are overweight at diagnosis. Because the number of obese children has tripled since 1984, a growing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes has followed. Other risk factors for the disease include, but are not limited to an increased level of fat in the blood, high blood pressure, nationality and a family history of diabetes. A healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. In fact, studies in adults suggest that moderate weight loss and regular physical activity can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by more than 50 per cent (Canadian Diabetes Association).