Do I Have Diabetes? Type 2 Diabetes Risk Quiz | Vitagene

Do I Have Diabetes? Risk Quiz

Answer 10 questions based on the ADA validated risk assessment to find out your type 2 diabetes risk level in under 2 minutes.

38MAmericans have
diabetes (2024)

1 in 5with diabetes
don’t know it

96MUS adults have
prediabetes

80%of prediabetes cases
go undiagnosed

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment0 of 10

About you

1. How old are you?

2. What is your biological sex?

4. Do you have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes?

Health history

5. Have you ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure?

6. Are you physically active?

Less than 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week

Body measurements

7. What is your height and weight?

Used to calculate your BMI — a key risk factor

8. What is your waist circumference? (optional)

Measure around your belly button level

Current symptoms

9. Are you experiencing any of these symptoms?

Select all that apply — or none if you have no symptoms

Frequent / excessive thirst

Frequent urination

Unexplained fatigue

Blurred vision

Slow-healing cuts or bruises

Increased hunger even after eating

Tingling or numbness in hands/feet

Recurring yeast or skin infections

10. Which best describes your ethnic background?

Some populations have higher diabetes risk at lower BMI levels

Your Score on the Risk Scale

Low risk
0–4 Moderate
5–6 High risk
7+

Risk factors identified

Recommended next steps

Important: This quiz is based on the American Diabetes Association risk assessment (Bang et al., 2009) and is for screening and educational purposes only. It cannot diagnose diabetes or prediabetes. Only a blood glucose test — including fasting plasma glucose, A1C, or oral glucose tolerance test — can confirm a diagnosis. If you are concerned about your results, consult a healthcare provider.

Understanding Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin effectively, causing blood sugar levels to rise above normal. Unlike type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune condition, type 2 is strongly linked to lifestyle and metabolic risk factors — many of which are modifiable.

The challenge is that type 2 diabetes often develops silently. Early stages produce few or no noticeable symptoms, which is why an estimated 1 in 5 people with diabetes don’t know they have it. By the time symptoms become obvious, blood sugar may have been elevated for years — during which time damage to blood vessels, nerves, and organs can already be underway.

Type 2 Diabetes

The most common form, accounting for 90–95% of all diabetes cases. Develops when cells become resistant to insulin or the pancreas can no longer produce enough. Strongly associated with weight, physical inactivity, and age.

Prediabetes

Blood sugar levels higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic range. Affects 96 million US adults. Without intervention, 15–30% of people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years — but it is largely reversible with lifestyle changes.

Type 1 Diabetes

An autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells. Can develop at any age. Not related to lifestyle. Requires lifelong insulin therapy. This quiz screens for type 2 risk only.

Gestational Diabetes

Develops during pregnancy due to hormonal changes affecting insulin sensitivity. Usually resolves after delivery but significantly raises the mother’s lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Key Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes

The ADA risk assessment used in this quiz is based on research by Bang et al. (2009) and validated against the CDC’s prediabetes screening criteria. It incorporates the following risk factors:

Risk Factor	Risk Level	Why It Matters
Age 45+	Moderate	The risk of type 2 diabetes increases significantly after age 45, as insulin sensitivity naturally declines with age
Age 60+	High	Adults over 60 have the highest prevalence of diabetes of any age group
Overweight / Obese (BMI 25+)	High	Excess body fat — particularly visceral (abdominal) fat — reduces insulin sensitivity. The strongest single modifiable risk factor
Family history	Moderate	Having a parent or sibling with diabetes raises your risk significantly. Genetics account for roughly 40% of type 2 diabetes risk
Physical inactivity	Moderate	Muscle activity is one of the main mechanisms for glucose uptake. Inactivity reduces insulin sensitivity
High blood pressure	Moderate	Hypertension and diabetes share common underlying causes including insulin resistance and inflammation
Gestational diabetes history	High	Women who had gestational diabetes have a 50% lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Ethnicity	Moderate	Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Native American populations have higher rates of diabetes, partly due to genetic factors affecting insulin secretion

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is often called a “silent” disease because early symptoms are mild and easy to miss or attribute to other causes. Here are the most common warning signs:

Frequent Urination and Thirst

When blood sugar is high, the kidneys work overtime to filter and excrete the excess glucose — drawing water with it. This leads to increased urination and a corresponding increase in thirst.

Unexplained Fatigue

Cells that can’t absorb glucose properly are starved of energy, even when blood sugar is high. This persistent energy shortage causes fatigue that doesn’t respond to rest or sleep.

Blurred Vision

High blood sugar causes the lens of the eye to swell, changing its shape and temporarily affecting focus. Untreated, prolonged high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels of the retina (diabetic retinopathy).

Slow Wound Healing

Elevated blood glucose impairs circulation and immune function, reducing the body’s ability to heal cuts, bruises, and infections. Recurring or slow-healing wounds — especially on the feet — are a significant warning sign.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this quiz diagnose diabetes?

No. This quiz is a risk screening tool, not a diagnostic test. It can indicate whether you have risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes and whether you should discuss blood sugar testing with a doctor. The only way to diagnose diabetes or prediabetes is through a blood test — typically a fasting plasma glucose test, an A1C (glycated hemoglobin) test, or an oral glucose tolerance test.

What blood tests are used to diagnose diabetes?

There are three main tests. The fasting plasma glucose test measures blood sugar after at least 8 hours without eating — a result of 126 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes. The A1C test reflects average blood sugar over the past 2–3 months — an A1C of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes (5.7–6.4% is prediabetes). The oral glucose tolerance test measures blood sugar before and 2 hours after drinking a sugary solution — a 2-hour result of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes. Any abnormal result should be confirmed with a repeat test on a different day.

Is type 2 diabetes reversible?

For many people, especially those with prediabetes or early type 2 diabetes, significant lifestyle changes — particularly weight loss of 5–10% of body weight, increased physical activity, and dietary improvements — can normalize blood sugar levels. Some research refers to this as “remission” rather than cure, as the underlying predisposition remains. The landmark Diabetes Prevention Program study showed that lifestyle intervention reduced the risk of progressing from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes by 58% — more effective than medication alone.

What is the difference between prediabetes and type 2 diabetes?

Prediabetes means blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. Fasting glucose between 100–125 mg/dL or an A1C between 5.7–6.4% indicates prediabetes. It is a critical warning window — with the right interventions, progression to type 2 diabetes can often be prevented or delayed. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when fasting glucose reaches 126 mg/dL or higher, or A1C reaches 6.5% or above, confirmed on at least two occasions.

How often should I be screened for diabetes?

The ADA recommends that all adults begin diabetes screening at age 35, or earlier if they have risk factors such as overweight/obesity, family history, or certain ethnic backgrounds. Adults with normal results should be retested every 3 years. People with prediabetes should be tested every 1–2 years. Those with multiple risk factors may benefit from more frequent screening as recommended by their healthcare provider.

Can thin people develop type 2 diabetes?

Yes. While overweight and obesity are the strongest risk factors, type 2 diabetes can develop in people at a normal weight — particularly those with a family history, certain ethnic backgrounds, or who carry fat predominantly around the abdomen (visceral fat) rather than distributed more evenly. In Asian populations, diabetes risk increases at significantly lower BMI thresholds than in other groups. Metabolic health is more complex than body weight alone.