Diabetes Risk Calculator

The diabetes risk calculator is an effective tool designed for determining a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes based on different factors like age, weight, and physical activity. Individuals can determine their risk by entering relevant data, which enables them to seek preventive measures and make informed lifestyle choices. Studies suggest that compared to individuals without diabetes, individuals who have diabetes remain at higher threat for severe heart diseases like coronary heart disease and diabetic cardiomyopathy (heart attack) (1). This calculator will help you learn your diabetes risk score. Keep scrolling to check out the tool and learn more about the condition.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition affecting millions of people worldwide. According to the estimate by the International Diabetes Federation Project, by 2035 about 592 million people will develop this condition, which is 1 out of every 10 people (1). The risk of type 2 diabetes is also growing exponentially, which is closely related to multiple other health issues.

Risks Associated With Diabetes

1. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

CHD is a disease where the coronary arteries fail to supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. It’s caused by cholesterol buildup in the coronary arteries that slows the normal blood flow to the heart (2). Once the coronary arteries are narrowed, the heart muscle receives less oxygen. Diabetes Mellitus is regarded as a risk equivalent for coronary heart disease, as high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels over time and affect the heart functions, increasing the risk of mortality (3).

2. Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Diabetic cardiomyopathy affects the myocardium (a muscular layer in the walls of the heart) and may affect its structure and function, which impacts the heart function and leads to heart failure (4).

Diabetes Tests And Risk Scores

Several tests are used to diagnose diabetes and determine a person’s risk of developing the condition based on the risk scores.

1. Fasting Plasma Glucose: The fasting blood sugar or glucose test is a widely used diagnostic tool for diabetes where your blood sugar levels are measured after an overnight fast. A fasting blood sugar level of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more indicates diabetes (5).
2. Oral Glucose Tolerance: This is another test where the person fasts overnight and the following morning drinks a sugary solution. Blood sugar levels are measured twice – once before consuming the solution and again two hours later. A blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL or more 2 hours after drinking the solution indicates diabetes (6).
3. Haemoglobin A1C: This test showcases the average levels of blood glucose for the previous three months. Haemoglobin, the protein in the blood, live for three months, and glucose sticks to them as long as they are alive (7).

Diagnosing Diabetes And Pre-Diabetes

A blood test is required to determine whether you have diabetes mellitus or not. There are online tools like diabetes carb calculator or diabetes carbohydrate calculator, which can be helpful aids as well. You may take any of the tests discussed above in the article to diagnose diabetes and pre-diabetes. A fasting blood sugar level between 100-125 mg/dL indicates pre-diabetes. The HbA1C test is advisable for people without diabetes initially.

For an individual who is not suffering from diabetes, a normal HbA1C level remains below 5.7%. An A1C ranging between 5.7% to 6.4% is indicative of pre-diabetes (8).

Wondering how to use a diabetes risk calculator? Scroll down to learn in detail.

How To Use Diabetes Risk Calculator

There are a few inputs necessary for calculating your diabetes risk factor. The online diabetes calculators are interactive and display results straightaway. Follow these steps to use our calculator:

• Select your gender and enter your age in the box provided.
• Enter your height in cm and your weight in kg.
• Choose the appropriate option from the drop-down menu under “Family History”.
• Select your ethnicity
• Enter your fasting glucose results, systolic blood pressure levels, and HDL cholesterol levels in the respective boxes.
• Then click on “calculate” to get your results.

Certain risk factors may increase your chances of developing diabetes. Let’s learn more about them.

Risk Factors For Type 2 Diabetes

A combination of risk elements like genetics and lifestyle determines your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. You are at risk of developing it if (9):

• You are obese
• You are above 45 years
• You have a family history of diabetes
• You have high blood pressure
• You lead a sedentary lifestyle
• You struggle with depression
• You have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• You have Low HDL and high triglyceride levels
• You have a history of stroke or heart disease

However, there are ways to reduce diabetes risk. Changing your lifestyle is one of the major steps towards diabetes prevention. Let’s look at a few more factors that may help you.

Ways To Control Blood Sugar Levels

• Regular Exercise: Exercising can help your body utilize insulin, which may help reduce your blood sugar levels.
• Regulate Your Carb Intake: While consuming carbs is essential, ensure you are eating them in moderation. Moreover, avoid bad carbs such as refined flour, white bread, pasta, pastries, etc. Your body breaks down carbs to glucose, and henceforth the insulin moves the sugars into your cells. Consult a registered nutritionist to get a personalized diet chart.
• Consume More Fiber: Fiber prevents sugar absorption and carb digestion.
• Consume Foods With Low Glycemic Index: Low-glycemic foods do not cause sugar spikes after meals, but slowly raise blood sugar. Foods like oats, chickpeas, and green vegetables have a low GI.
• Avoid Stress: Stress management is essential as it stabilizes mental health and helps your body in controlling blood sugars.
• Sleep Well: It’s because too little sleep may increase your insulin resistance, making it tough for you to manage diabetes (10).

Apart from these, staying hydrated may also play a key role in managing diabetes. Let’s learn how it may help.

Hydration And Diabetes Management: Is There Any Link?

Water intake may have some effect on diabetes and blood sugar regulation. A study observed that any disturbance in the body’s hydration levels may worsen glucose regulation in people with diabetes. It also observed that low water intake may increase antidiuretic signal or high arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentration, a hormone that maintains body fluid homeostasis. People with an elevated AVP level are at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes (11). Another study also suggests that adequate water intake lowers the risk of diabetes mellitus (12). Since people with diabetes require more water than those without the condition, the kidneys might excrete the excess sugar through urine, which explains why adequate water intake might help in preventing hyperglycemia (13). However, the exact mechanism is still unclear and further research is required to substantiate this claim.

The human body requires glucose, but an excess of it can be harmful. Let’s understand in detail.

How Much Is Too Much Of Sugar?

According to the CDC, people older than 2 years should ensure that less than 10% of their daily total calories are coming from sugars. Meaning, if an adult is consuming 2000 calories in a day, 200 calories may come from sugar. The guidelines further limit the sugar intake for toddlers. It states that if a toddler is consuming 1200 calories a day, not more than 120 calories should come from added sugar. The guidelines clarify that children under 2 years should not consume any added sugars (14). Therefore, anything over the recommended amount is considered an excess and can be detrimental to one’s health.

The diabetes risk calculator serves as an excellent tool to determine a person’s susceptibility to diabetes based on their age, BMI, and family history. It offers a personalized approach to diabetes awareness and prevention. The scores may help you determine when to take appropriate measures to manage your blood glucose levels to avoid the risk of developing diabetes. However, do not rely only on the tool. Get regular blood sugar tests, follow a healthy lifestyle, and go for regular checkups.

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Dr. Benjamin GibsonPAHM, PharmD, Certified Functional Specialist

 

Dr. Benjamin Gibson is an award-winning multi-state licensed pharmacist and nutritionist published on PubMed. He is also a best-selling author, international podcast host, international newspaper reporter, and health coach. He has 15 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and a doctorate in pharmacy. Dr. Gibson helps clients sleep better, lose weight, and get stronger bones without...more

Sindhu KogantiSenior Health & Wellness Writer

 

Sindhu Koganti is a Certified Health and Nutrition Life Coach and has over 6 years of experience in writing on health and wellness topics. She has a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, and a diploma in nutrition from Fab Academy. After her graduation, she decided to combine her knowledge of science and love for writing to...more

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Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

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Payal Karnik is a senior health and wellness writer and a Certified Health and Nutrition Life Coach. She is a biotechnology graduate from the University of Mumbai with a keen interest in writing and a natural curiosity for science. This formidable combination equips her with the knowledge to write research-backed health and wellness articles. She has also published a research...more