Type 2 Diabetes

What causes it

The causes of type 2 diabetes are not completely understood, but it almost always starts with insulin resistance. So what contributes to this insulin resistance? Here are some of the most common risk factors:

• Family history of diabetes
• Growing older – your risk increases as you age
• History of gestational diabetes
• Lack of exercise
• Member of a high-risk ethnic group, such as:
  • African American
  • Asian American or Pacific Islander
  • Hispanic American
  • Native American
• Overweight or obese