Key takeaways

  • A combination of factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and family history, typically causes diabetes.
  • Having a high amount of visceral fat and not enough physical activity can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
  • Other medical conditions like prediabetes, high blood pressure, and PCOS, as well as certain medications, can also contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.

When it comes to type 2 diabetes, there’s not a single cause.

A combination of factors may lead to type 2 diabetes (T2D), ranging from your family medical history and ethnicity to lifestyle factors like food choices and physical activity habits.

Genetics plays a role in a person’s risk of developing this condition.

The American Diabetes Association and recent research notes indicate that genetics, along with race and ethnicity, are contributing factors for T2D — even more than with type 1 diabetes.

A certain type of fat, called visceral fat, can increase risk for type 2 diabetes.

You can’t see it, but its fat that surrounds your internal organs, like your liver and your intestines, deep inside your midsection.

While visceral fat is only about 10% of total body fat, it has the highest associated risk for metabolic issues like insulin resistance.

What is insulin resistance?

Normally, your body uses a hormone called insulin to help glucose in your bloodstream enter your cells and be used for energy.

Insulin resistance develops when the cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin being made in your body to help regulate blood sugar levels naturally. As a result, this makes it harder for the glucose to get into your cells.

That means you may end up with too much sugar staying in your bloodstream, leading to higher blood sugars and possibly prediabetes and T2D.

Read more about insulin resistance and how insulin works in your body.

Sitting for long periods of time can raise your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and diabetes experts emphasize that routine physical activity can help you keep your blood sugar levels in target range and reduce your chances of developing prediabetes and T2D.

It’s possible that a medication you’re taking for another medical condition could contribute to T2D development.

For example, corticosteroids like prednisone are often used to treat inflammation, but they’re also associated with a risk of developing diabetes. High doses of statins, which are used to treat high cholesterol, may also increase your risk.

Other drugs that have been associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes in some cases include:

Other drugs may also raise your blood sugar levels, so it may be worth having a conversation with a medical professional if you start taking a new medication, especially if you have other risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Do not stop taking or change your medications without first consulting your medical care team.

If you have prediabetes, your blood sugar levels are elevated but not quite enough to qualify for a diabetes diagnosis.

Other conditions that may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes include:

Regularly eating foods with added sugar and sugar-sweetened drinks can raise the risk of prediabetes and T2D.

Research doesn’t suggest that sugar consumption on its own guarantees someone will develop diabetes, but studies do show a strong link.

Eating large amounts of sugar can also indirectly raise diabetes risk by contributing to weight gain and higher body fat. These are both separate risk factors for developing prediabetes and T2D.

To reduce the adverse effects of high sugar consumption, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that no more than 10% of your total daily calories come from added sugars. Other groups’ guidelines vary on recommended sugar amounts.

»Does eating too much sugar cause type 2 diabetes?Learn more about the link between sugar and diabetes.

Whether someone will develop diabetes depends on many other factors, such as those mentioned above.

Eating nutrient-dense meals can help improve your health on many fronts, including decreasing the likelihood that you’ll develop T2D.

Find out how certain foods and types of recipes may help lower your risk for developing prediabetes and T2D, and manage the condition if you’ve already been diagnosed.

Certain factors may increase your T2D risk, including:

  • Obesity: Weight can be a risk factor. People who have obesity are at elevated risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
  • Age. You can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, but people over age 45 are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes.
  • History of gestational diabetes: People who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy are more likely to go on and develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Research finds that people who to have gestational diabetes during pregnancy have a much higher risk of developing T2D.
  • Economic and societal factors: also shows that socioeconomic factors can affect T2D development. More research is needed to help inform clinical decision-making about how healthcare professionals can address this issue.

Type 2 diabetes risk factors

You can read more about the many risk factors for type 2 diabetes and what you can do to help prevent developing this chronic condition.

Many factors can influence your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. You can help manage some factors, but some can be beyond your control.

If you believe you’re at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, talk with a healthcare professional about ways you can help reduce your chances of developing the condition.