In order to be knowledgeable about Type 1 diabetes, you should know your diabetes risk factors.  This type of diabetes usually begins in childhood when the pancreas stops producing insulin.  You body needs this hormone in order to produce energy, glucose, which is found in food.  Here are the diabetes risk factors for Type 1 diabetes:

• Family history and genetics – One of the major diabetes risk factors is to have a family member that has this disease.  The American Diabetes Association has recommended that anyone who has a first-degree relative who has Type 1 diabetes- father, mother, brother or sister- be screened for diabetes.  You only have to have a simple blood test.
• Diseases of the pancreas – If you have diseases of or injure the pancreas in any way this may inhibit this organ’s ability to produce insulin which will lead to Type 1 diabetes.
• Infection or illness – A variety of rare illnesses and infections can damage the pancreas and lead to Type 1 diabetes.

Do you have diabetes risk factors for Type 2 diabetes?  Over the past thirty years the incidence of Type 2 diabetes has doubled so states the Framingham Heart Study.  Is it any wonder?  It seems that our population is getting heavier by the day!  Children, too, are putting on those extra pounds.  This is due to all of the fast food that is readily available.

To know if you have diabetes risk factors that may put you in danger of getting this silent killer, then read on:

• Family history of diabetes – In case a parent or a brother or sister has diabetes, the chance that you may get Type 2 diabetes increases.
• Age over 45 – This kind of diabetes increases with age.
• Ethnic background or race – The risk of getting Type 2 diabetes is greater if you are black, Hispanic, Asian or Native American.
• Metabolic or insulin resistance syndrome – It is estimated that approximately 70 to 80 million people in the United States have insulin resistance syndrome.  This is one of the diabetes risk factors for Type 2 diabetes.  There is a combination of diseases that is caused by this syndrome.  One you are able to gather more information about it, you may want to start with some of the recommended lifestyle changes so that you may actually decrease the chance of getting this problem.
• Overweight – If you happen to be overweight, which is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25, you have a much greater risk of contracting Type 2 diabetes.
• Abnormal cholesterol levels – The “good” cholesterol or HDL should be under 35mg/dl and if you have a triglyceride level that is over 250 mg/dl this will increase your chance of getting Type 2 diabetes.
• Hypertension – If you have high blood pressure, this will increase the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes.
• History of gestational diabetes – If you get diabetes during pregnancy or deliver a baby over 9 pounds, this may increase your risk of getting Type 2 diabetes.
• Habitually inactive
• History of polycystic ovary disease commonly known as PCOS
• History of vascular disease such as already having a stroke

All of these are diabetes risk factors that you should be aware of.  It is important to catch this disease in the early stages before it attacks other internal organs.