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How Your Test is Scored

Points for each risk factor below were added up to calculate your score. For example, if you answered yes to the question “Do you have a mother, father, sister, or brother with diabetes?” you scored 1 point for Family History. If you answered no to the question “Have you ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure?” you scored 0 points for High Blood Pressure, and so on for all the risk factors. A total of 5 points or higher is considered high risk for having prediabetes.

Age

Less than 40 years: 0 points

40–49 years: 1 point

50–59 years: 2 points

60 years or older: 3 points

The older you are, the higher your risk for type 2 diabetes. Risk starts to increase at around age 45 and increases sharply after age 65.

Gender

Man: 1 point

Woman: 0 points

Woman who has had gestational diabetes: 1 point

More men than women have undiagnosed diabetes, possibly because men are less likely to see their doctor regularly. Gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant) goes away after the baby is born, but increases a woman’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Family History

Yes: 1 point

No: 0 points

There’s a link between family history and type 2 diabetes, but not only because family members are related. Sometimes they share certain habits that can increase their risk.

High Blood Pressure

Yes: 1 point

No: 0 points

High blood pressure raises your risk for type 2 diabetes. It can also increase your risk for heart disease, eye problems, and kidney disease or make them worse.

Physical Activity

Yes: 0 points

No: 1 point

Being inactive is a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes. One reason is that your body can’t use insulin as well when you don’t get regular physical activity. Insulin helps keep blood sugar levels from getting too high.

BMI

Column 1: 0 points

Column 2: 1 point

Column 3: 2 points

Column 4: 3 points

Body mass index or BMI is a measure of height compared to weight. For example, a person who is 5’3” and weighs 120 pounds has a BMI of 21 and is in the normal range:

Weight status BMI
Normal 18.5-24.9
Overweight 25-29.9
Obese 30 or greater

People with higher BMIs have a higher risk for type 2 diabetes.