For those who think that they will not developing diabetes in their lifetime because they are thin, it may be time to reassess what might be a false sense of security. While diabetes is a chronic disease normally associated with the consumption of sweet foods, being overweight or obese, and leading a sedentary and overall unhealthy lifestyle, a new study suggests that people of normal weight need to exercise caution as well.

According to Diabetes UK, a major charitable organization that promotes research and awareness in the U.K., approximately 11.3 percent of people diagnosed with the condition have normal body weight at the time they develop the disease. Even more surprising, a few, 0.4 percent, are underweight. These cases indicate that diabetes can develop for a variety of reasons, not just as a result of too much body weight.

The analysis of data from the National Diabetes Audit revealed that nine out of 10 people with type 2 diabetes are overweight, meaning their body mass indices are higher than 25. Over half of new diabetes cases are in obese people. Even so, it is not just a disease for the obese, the study shows.

England is home to approximately 3.2 million adults living with diabetes. Among these, an estimated 850,000 have not yet been diagnosed. The prevalence of diabetes is expected to reach 4.6 million by 2030.

Risk factors for diabetes that are not related to body weight include family history of the condition; black, South Asian, or Chinese ethnicity; and aging. The more well-known risk factors include overweight and obesity, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy diet.