The factors causing diabetes are extremely complex and poorly understood. The multiple types of the disease confuse the matter further, since each type has it own risk factors. The majority of cases in the United States are Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Each form is a result on numerous hereditary and environmental influences.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type.

The major cause of Type 2 is believed to be obesity. Obesity stems from a combination of heredity factors and lifestyle choices, making it an excellent prototype for a diabetes' risk factor. Although exercise and diet are choices, some people are more prone to gain weight than others and other people can lose weight more easily than others can.

But there are many other factors, as well.

While diabetes that develops during pregnancy (gestational diabetes), ceases after delivery, it is a risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Nearly 40 % of women who have gestational diabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes, usually within ten years of the pregnancy in which the gestational diabetes occurred. Giving birth to a larger baby is another sign of high risk.

Genetics also influences glucose intolerance. It makes sense that glucose intolerance contributes to Type 2, since Type 2 is due to improper use of insulin, instead of insufficient insulin (Type1). Because glucose is the body's primary source of energy it is odd that this condition exists. Strange problems arise with genetic abnormalities.

Ethnicity plays a role in whether or not an individual will develop Type 2 diabetes, though the reasons are not fully understood. Even after adjusting for lifestyle, Aboriginals, Africans, Latin Americans and some Asian groups are at higher risk. The profile varies between 1.5-2 times the incidence among Caucasians, according to one broad Canadian study. Oddly, though, the risk of Type 1 diabetes is much higher among Caucasians than any other race.

Having high blood pressure raises the odds, too. That again is partly a lifestyle (chiefly, diet and exercise) choice but it has a strong genetic aspect as well. There's a strong correlation between those with high blood pressure and those who will develop diabetes. Similarly, high cholesterol levels increase the risk. Over 40% of those with diabetes have higher than average levels of cholesterol in the blood.

While all of these factors have a genetic component having a family member with the disease likely represents the highest hereditary risk factor.

People who have a sibling or parent with Type 1 diabetes have as much a 20 times higher risk than average. The newborn of a parent with Type 1 has about a 1 in 25 chance of developing the disease if the mother is younger than 25 when she gives birth. The risk lowers to around the same as the general population if the mother is older than 25. If either parent developed diabetes before age 11, the newborn has about a 10% chance of developing the disease.

Researchers are diligently studying the genetic risk factors for diabetes. In the past there was little that could be done to prevent these risks. Someday soon, genetic treatments may prevent genetic diabetes.

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