Lifestyle Risk
A sedentary lifestyle, resulting from lack of physical work and exercise, plays a role in the development of diabetes. The less active a person, the greater the risk of developing diabetes. Modern conveniences have made work easier. Physical activity and exercise help control weight, use up a lot of glucose (sugar) present in the blood as energy and make cells more sensitive to insulin. Consequently, the workload on the pancreas is reduced.

Exercise adds to muscle mass. Normally, between 70 percent to 90 percent of the blood sugar is absorbed into the muscles. A reduction in muscle mass -- either due to age of physical inactivity -- reduces the storage space for blood sugar, and it remains in the bloodstream.

Smoking: An Important Risk Factor
Smoking is another important risk factor. Among men who smoke, the risk of developing diabetes is doubled. In women who smoke 25 or more cigarettes a day, the risk of developing diabetes is increased by 40 percent. Smoking also reduces retinal blood flow and increases the risk of developing retinopathy. It decreases insulin absorption and limits joint mobility. Smoking, in combination with diabetes, greatly enhances the likelihood of premature mortality. It also depends upon the number of cigarettes a day a person smokes and the number of years he or she has been smoking.

Age
Rdisk of Type 2 diabetes increases as one grows older, especially after age 45. When people grow older, they tend to become less physically active, lose muscle mass and gain weight. With lifestyles becoming more sedentary, there has been an increase of diabetes among people in their 30s and 40s.