While some risk factors do increase a person’s chance of developing diabetes, there are other factors that may determine if someone develops the disease or not. Determining who may get the disease is not fool-proof, but there is evidence to suggest that ethnicity, location, and age may influence the outcome of who develops diabetes. Regardless, early evaluation and starting a treatment program immediately are the keys to living healthily after the diagnosis is made.

Different Groups, Different Risks

Type one diabetes affects different people than does type two diabetes. Type one diabetes occurs equally in males and females, but the disease is more common in whites than in nonwhites. The disease is rare in most American Indian, Asian, and African populations, although some northern European countries like Finland and Sweden have reported high rates of the disease for some unknown reason.

Type two diabetes, on the other hand, generally affects older people who lead a pretty sedentary lifestyle. These people tend to be overweight. Surprisingly, this disease occurs more often in African Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans. It also occurs more often in native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. On average, non-Hispanic African Americans are 1.6 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites of a similar age. Also, American Indians have one of the highest rates of type two diabetes in the world, along with Alaskan natives. Alaskan natives are 2.2 times as likely to develop type two diabetes.

The prevalence of type two diabetes may also increase as the population ages. Since Hispanics and other minorities are the fastest growing groups in the United States, the numbers may also tend to increase. Overweight and sedentary people are also on the rise, so this may also contribute to the increasing development of the disease. It is estimated, in fact, that by 2025 about 8.9 percent of the population will be diagnosed with type two diabetes.

If you are a part of these at-risk ethnic groups for either type of diabetes and are experiencing symptoms or have a family history of the disease, schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately to be evaluated.

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