In whites the figure is somewhere between 1-2 percent of the entire population. With this came the development of obesity within their culture which results in diabetes developing in those that are genetically predisposed. In other words, obesity tends to promote diabetes in those genetically predisposed regardless of where you live and what your racial background is. Type 2 diabetes tends to be fairly hereditary in contrast to Type 1 diabetes. The degree of obesity also seems to be a factor with a larger percentage of diabetes developing in those who are more obese.
Genetic predisposition seems to be the strongest factor.
Obesity and high caloric intake seem to be another. These patients often tend to respond early to oral drugs to lower blood sugar but may need insulin at some point. Copyright 1997, 1998.