Causes and risk factors of type 2 diabeteS.
In millions of households worldwide, a relentless struggle unfolds daily – the battle against Type 2 Diabetes. This widespread metabolic disorder, characterized by high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance, has become a defining health challenge of our time.
As the number of individuals diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes continues to rise, so does the urgent need for comprehensive, accessible, and practical guidance on managing this condition.
Navigating the intricacies of Type 2 Diabetes requires more than just medical knowledge; it demands a holistic approach that addresses the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of this condition.
Fear, frustration, and uncertainty are natural companions on this journey, and acknowledging these emotions is the first step toward resilience. Knowledge and understanding are the first steps toward boosting physical and emotional wellbeing.
In the chapters that follow, you will gain insight into the fundamentals of Type 2 Diabetes – demystifying its causes, understanding its impact on the body, and unraveling the crucial link between lifestyle choices and disease management.
A type 2 diabetes diagnosis can be daunting and fearful, as possible and potential outcomes can be very frightening. However, a diagnosis is not a sentence. You have the ability to change outcomes by instigating positive changes, that you can learn about here.
Causes and Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and one of the leading causes of death around the world.
If you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it means that your pancreas is not producing enough insulin.
Whatever it can produce it is not working as it should. This prevents the body from using energy from the food you eat properly.
What causes type 2 diabetes and how do you know if you are at risk of developing this disease? Is there something you can do to avoid having diabetes? That is what we will look at right now.
Here are the top factors that can lead to type 2 diabetes.
Genetics and Upbringing/Family Influences
Type 2 diabetes tends to run in the family, so if you have parents, grandparents, or siblings who have type 2 diabetes, you may be more likely to develop it.
That is partly due to gene mutations, particularly involving genes that control the production of glucose or insulin and the regulation of their levels in the body.
However, having a family history of diabetes does not mean you will automatically get it, or conversely, that you won’t get it if your family is diabetes-free.
Other factors, such as your eating habits and level of physical activity can also affect your risks for type 2 diabetes, which brings us to the next points below.
If you are overweight or obese, you have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The extra weight you carry as fat makes your muscles and tissue cells resistant to insulin. Muscle cells are designed to respond to insulin.
When the ratio of fat to muscle increases, the body overall is less able to maintain balanced blood sugar levels, and this worsens as the ratio increases further.
In particular, carrying excessive weight around your belly (also called visceral fat) can make you more prone to diabetes. For one, this type of fat produces retinol-binding protein 4, making your body more insulin-resistant.
You can evaluate your excess weight by calculating your BMI, or body mass index. Your BMI is calculated using your weight and height. To make it easy for you, you can use a BMI calculator. If you have a BMI of 25 to 29.9, you are overweight, and if your BMI is 30 to 39.9, you are classified as being obese.
If you barely exercise, or worse, do not exercise at all, you have a higher chance of getting type 2 diabetes. Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle go hand-in-hand with being overweight or obese.
When you exercise, you can decrease insulin resistance because muscle cells have more insulin receptors than fat cells. Insulin then becomes more effective and helps lower blood sugar levels.
Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits and Choices
Your lifestyle habits and choices can also contribute to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If you drink high amounts of alcohol, smoke, or use drugs, you are at a higher risk of getting the disease.
The biggest single factor that causes insulin resistance (the precursor to Type 2 diabetes) is persistently elevated blood glucose levels. This almost always results from over-consumption of foods and drinks with high sugar content.
Foods that are high on the Glycemic Index all contribute to raising blood sugar levels. Poor diet and lifestyle choices can lead to obesity and eventually Type 2 diabetes.
Other Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
Aside from the top factors discussed above, the following are also risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.
- High blood pressure or heart disease.
- Age 45 and above.
- Race and ethnicity – African American, Alaska Natives, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Low HDL levels, which is the good cholesterol.
Whether it runs in the family or not, you can avoid and manage type 2 diabetes by eating a healthy diet and making healthy lifestyle choices. You may not have control over some risk factors, but there are many others you can address so you can avoid getting type 2 diabetes.
Ensure you eat foods high in fiber and ones that contain plenty of nutritional value and are low in added sugar. Reduce your salt intake and avoid processed foods containing dangerous trans fats.
It is also important to engage in physical activities more than three times a week and maintain a healthy weight. You can seek professional help in creating meal plans and exercise programs if you are unsure of what to do next.