People at risk

• People including one first degree relative (mother, father, brother or sister) has type 2 diabetes;
• People who are obese or have excess weightespecially when the fat mass is concentrated in the abdomen rather than on the hips and thighs. Indeed, the fat lodged in the organs of the abdomen (especially the liver) is the one that most affects the function of insulin. Over 80% of type 2 diabetics are overweight;
• Some populations are more at risk, including Africans, Latin Americans, Asians and indigenous peoples of North America.

Risk factors

•  Be over 40 years old. Type 2 diabetes mainly affects adults, and its prevalence increases with age;
• Have a way of life sedentary and consume too much calories;
• For women, having suffered from gestational diabetes or having given birth to a baby weighing more than 4 kg;

Have metabolic syndrome. In the clinic, the doctor will assess the presence of the following factors (3 are sufficient for the diagnosis of this syndrome):

• abdominal obesity, determined by measuring the waist circumference;
• high blood triglycerides;
• low blood HDL (“good” cholesterol);
• high blood pressure;
• high fasting blood sugar.