Program Category: Risk Assessment
Risk Information & Tools
Are You at Risk?
You may be at risk of developing type 1 or type 2 diabetes without knowing it
Risk factors for type 1 diabetes
- Having a close family member with type 1 diabetes slightly increased the risk
- Research is ongoing to see if there any are other risk factors
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes
If an individual has one or more of the risk factors below they may be at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
- Having a mother, father, sister or brother with type 2 diabetes
- Being of Aboriginal, African, Asian, Hispanic, or South Asian decent
- Having higher than normal cholesterol, blood pressure or blood sugar (prediabetes)
- Having had high blood sugars during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) or giving birth to a baby over 9 pounds (4 kilograms)
- Having been diagnosed with:
- schizophrenia, depression, or bipolar disorder
- acanthosis nigricans (darkened patches of skin)
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- obstructive sleep apnea
- diabetes-related health problems
- Taking a glucocorticoid medication (i.e. steroid)
- Being overweight and/or physically inactive
More is known about the risk factors for type 2 diabetes than type 1 diabetes. For more information visit the Diabetes Canada website.
Find out if you are at risk
The assessments below can be completed and printed
*CanRisk Tools in a variety of languages that can be downloaded, completed and printed. (Retrieved July 6, 2017 from https://www.pharmacists.ca/education-practice-resources/patient-care/diabetes-practice-tools-and-resources/canrisk-tools/)