Knowing the causes and risk factors of diabetes is crucial to your health. Currently there are 18.2 million people in the United States with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. That is over 6% of the population, and it is estimated that 1/3 of the people with diabetes do not even know that they have it. This is a big problem because early detection is critical to avoiding painful and debilitating complications.
Diabetes is a disease of the metabolic system in which the body cannot properly produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed by the body to help turn the food that we eat into energy. Without insulin the cells are starved for energy and glucose (sugar) is left in the blood stream. Overtime, high levels of blood sugar can damage major organs such as your heart, eyes, and kidneys.
There are two major types of diabetes, type-1 and type-2. Type-1 is usually autoimmune disease in which the pancreas stops producing insulin. A family history of type-1 diabetes is the primary risk factor for this type. However, injuries of the pancreas can also bring about type-1 diabetes. Type-2 diabetes occurs when the cells are unresponsive to the insulin that is produced. The major risk factor of type-2 is obesity or being overweight. There are other causes and risk factors of diabetes type-2.
Causes and Risk Factors of Diabetes Type-2
Type-2 diabetes is the most predominant type of diabetes. Type-2 diabetes is, for the most part, a preventable disease. If more people knew that they were at risk, they could begin taking the steps needed to prevent diabetes or at least avoid some of the complications of the disease. According to WebMd.com, the following are risk factors of type-2 diabetes.
Being overweight or obese – A body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 means that you are overweight,a BMI over 30 means that you are obese, and a BMI over 40 means that you are clinically and severely obese. Statistics show that one out of every four Americans is obese. This is the most important of the causes and risk factors of diabetes type-2.
Pre-diabetes – Of all the causes and risk factors of diabetes type-2, this is the most important. Pre-diabetes is pre-condition of diabetes type-2, and if you know that you have it there is still time to prevent diabetes by changing your lifestyle. Pre-diabetes can be diagnosed with a simple glucose tolerance test.
Ethnic background – Diabetes tends to occur more often in Hispanic or Latino Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Alaska natives.
History of gestational diabetes – Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that first shows up during pregnancy. Often gestational diabetes will go away after the birth of the baby, but the newborn is still at a higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes later in life.
Sedentary lifestyle – Generally, inactive people who exercise less than three times a week are likely to develop diabetes type-2.
Family history – Another of the major causes and risk factors of diabetes is genetics. A person who has a parent or sibling with the disease is at a high risk of developing the disease.
Age – Anyone over the age of 45 should be screened for diabetes, especially if they are overweight.
Polycystic ovary syndrome – Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) also carry a high risk for type-2 diabetes.
