What is diabetes? 

Diabetes is when your body has a hard time keeping blood sugar regular. It happens when your body doesn’t make enough of the hormone insulin or when your body doesn’t respond to insulin the way it should.

Most common types of diabetes 

• Type 1: Your immune system attacks the parts of your pancreas that make insulin

• Type 2: Your body doesn’t make enough insulin or it doesn’t respond to insulin the way it’s supposed to 

• Prediabetes: Your blood sugar levels are higher than they should be but not as high as Type 2

• Gestational: Diabetes developed during pregnancy

Risk factors for diabetes

Type 1 

• Family history of autoimmune disorders 

• Possibly exposure to certain viruses like coxsackievirus

Type 2, prediabetes and gestational

• Family history of diabetes

• Age (45 or older)

• History of gestational diabetes

• Overweight or obesity 

• Not getting enough physical activity 

• High blood pressure 

• Smoking 

• Agent Orange exposure

• Stress 

Rates of diabetes by race and ethnicity:

American Indian and Alaska Native adults (13.6%)

Non-Hispanic Black adults (12.1%)

Adults of Hispanic origin (11.7%)

Non-Hispanic Asian adults (9.1%) 

Non-Hispanic white adults (6.9%)

Other risk factors for gestational diabetes include:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

• Previous delivery of a baby over 9 pounds

The link between stress and diabetes 

Stress can increase diabetes risk. 

Women living with PTSD are almost 2x more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes

Stress can lead to unhealthy lifestyle factors:

• Poor diet

• Not enough physical activity

• Smoking

• Drinking too much alcohol 

Stress also increases the hormone cortisol, which can raise your blood sugar levels. 

People living with chronic or long-term stress are most at risk.

Symptoms of diabetes 

• Excessive thirst or dry mouth

• Frequent peeing 

• Fatigue

• Blurred vision 

• Unexplained weight loss 

• Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet

• Sores or cuts that take a long time to heal 

• Frequent skin or vaginal yeast infections 

See your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. 

This educational resource was created with support from AstraZeneca.