There are some things that you cannot change that increase your chances of getting type 2 diabetes:

Risk factors that you cannot control include:

• Family history. If you have a parent, brother, or sister who has type 2 diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing the disease.
• Age. The risk for getting prediabetes and type 2 diabetes increases with age. The American Diabetes Association estimates that over 40 million Americans age 40 to 74 have prediabetes.² And the number of children being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is increasing. Usually, children who get type 2 diabetes have a family history of the disease, are overweight, and are physically inactive.³
• Race and ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders are at higher risk than whites for type 2 diabetes.⁴
• History of gestational diabetes or having a baby weighing more than 9lb. Women who have had gestational diabetes or who have had a large baby are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.⁴
• Low birth weight. People who weighed less than 5.5lb at birth are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.⁵

There are some things you can do to reduce your chances of getting diabetes or reduce your chances of developing complications from diabetes:

• Lose weight. Your risk for type 2 diabetes increases as your weight (or body mass index, BMI) increases. Your risk also increases if most of your body fat is in your belly area. Reaching and staying at a healthy body weight can reduce your risk.
• Get more exercise. The less you exercise, the greater your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. People who do moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.⁶
• Eat foods that are good for you. Eating a lot of sugary foods, red meat, soft drinks, and fast food can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.^{7, 8, 9} Eating whole grains, nuts, and vegetables can decrease your risk.¹⁰
• Quit smoking. This change may reduce your chance of having complications from diabetes.
• Get treatment if you have prediabetes. If your fasting blood sugar levels are in the range from 100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL, you are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.¹¹
• Get treatment if you have high blood pressure (hypertension). People who have blood pressure levels above 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes than people who have blood pressure below 140/90.⁴
• Get treatment if you have high cholesterol. People who have high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels of 35 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or less, or triglyceride levels of 250 mg/dL or more are at higher risk of developing complications from type 2 diabetes.⁴