Risk and protective factors

Some behaviour and health factors can protect against developing diabetes (protective factors), while others can increase a person’s risk of developing the condition (risk factors) [44997].

Currently, there are no known protective factors for type 1 diabetes. However, changes in lifestyle such as losing weight, increasing physical activity and eating healthy foods are protective factors for type 2 diabetes [44997]. There is also evidence that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of maternal type 2 diabetes later in life [44621].

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, cultural factors can also be protective. These can include cultural identity, family and kinship, access to Country and participation in cultural activities [47098][44397].

The risk factors for diabetes can be divided into two categories: modifiable (can be changed) and non-modifiable (cannot be changed) [44997]. Non-modifiable factors include a person’s family history and age. Modifiable factors include:

• high blood pressure
• high blood cholesterol
• tobacco smoking
• low levels of physical activity
• inadequate diet
• overweight or obesity [44185].

Another modifiable risk factor is pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition when sugar (glucose) levels in the blood are high, but not high enough to be diabetes [34460].

Having more than one risk factor increases the risk of developing diabetes [44997].

Reducing the impact of diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is one of the key goals of the Australian national diabetes strategy 2021-2030. The strategy advocates for communities to have food security, and be supported to make healthy choices and lifestyle changes [44185].