Pat Kringas, RN, MA, CDE is the Research Coordinator for several clinical trials focusing on diabetes at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center in Northern Manhattan. She talked with us about the reasons people are most likely to get diabetes and who should get tested.

Q: What are the reasons people get diabetes?

A: Age, ethnicity, having family members who have diabetes, and being overweight are all important reasons why people get diabetes. As people get older, they are more likely to get diabetes. Certain ethnic groups, such as African Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans, are all more likely to get Type 2 Diabetes. In addition, people who have an immediate family member (parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles) with Type 2 Diabetes have a higher chance of getting it. In fact, the more family members with Type 2 Diabetes that a person has, the greater their own risk is. People who have little-to-no exercise in their lives also may be more likely to get it.

Pregnant women can also get a special type of diabetes during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes. Either having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby who weighs more than eight pounds could increase a woman's chance of getting Type 2 Diabetes.

Q: Who should be tested for diabetes?

A: Doctors never used to test teenagers and children for diabetes. But now, as more Americans learn about obesity and how it is connected to diabetes, doctors are now testing children and teenagers for this disease. Through these tests, many young people are found to have pre-diabetes. Adults who have many of the risks mentioned above should also be screened for diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Q: Where can you get tested for diabetes and pre-diabetes in Northern Manhattan?

A: It is extremely important for a person to have a primary care physician to test you for chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. If you do not have a primary care physician who checks you regularly for these diseases, you can find out if you're at risk for diabetes or pre-diabetes by taking an online quiz.

This quiz asks you for some information about your age, sex, height and weight, and other things that will tell you whether or not you have a greater chance of getting diabetes. If you are at an increased risk, you should go to a doctor and have them test you to see what your fasting blood glucose is. If your blood glucose is higher, the doctor will discuss some diet, exercise, and medication options with you to help reduce your chances of getting diabetes.

If you are uninsured and looking for a no- or low-cost place to get screened for diabetes, call the NYC Department of Health at 1-800-698-0411 and they can refer you to a place near you.

Read more from Pat Kringas by clicking the links below:

• Why diabetes is a bigger problem today
• Difference between diabetes and pre-diabetes

To listen to our interview with Pat Kringas, click here for our podcast page.

Harlem Word is a series of interviews with Harlem health experts, written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board.