What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?
Reduce Risk Factors With Healthy Lifestyle Choices
If you or a loved one has type 2 diabetes, you may be wondering why the disease has seemingly occurred suddenly. You probably have heard all sorts of explanations about the causes of this condition. Let's examine some of these risk factors that can have a profound impact on your health.
Genetics: Everyone is born with a certain set of genes that defines many of their physical characteristics, from hair and eye color to their risk for certain diseases. Some people have a genetic predisposition, or family tendency, to developing type 2 diabetes.
Race: People of certain races, including Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans, have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. According to the National Institutes of Health, people of these races have up to 10 times the rate of diabetes as Caucasians.
Increasing age: While everyone, including children, is at risk for type 2 diabetes, the risk increases significantly in people older than age 40.
These factors cannot be changed. Why do we say, then, that you can influence them favorably with appropriate lifestyle choices? We know from extensive research that even people with the highest genetic, racial, and age-related risks can greatly reduce the chance of developing the disease by maintaining a recommended body weight, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet.
Excess weight: Weighing more than recommended (see our related article Calculating Body Mass Index) is one of the major risk factors for type 2 diabetes. While losing weight is a tough proposition for most people, it is one of the most powerful actions you can take to reduce your chance of getting type 2 diabetes. See our related article Weight Loss and Diabetes.
Minimal physical activity: The human body is designed to move, to be active every day. Physical activity helps reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and also helps people with the disease manage their blood sugar levels. People who stay active and keep their muscles working are more likely to have cells that allow the insulin "key" to unlock the "door" permitting the glucose to enter. See our related article Exercise Improves Blood Sugar.
Risk Factors You Cannot Change
- Genetics
- Race
- Increasing age
Risk Factors You Can Change
- Excess weight
- Low physical activity