What Causes Type 2 Diabetes? How You Can Prevent It?

The American Diabetes Association estimates that 86 million people in the United States have prediabetes, a condition that will progress into type 2 diabetes without intervention. Type 2 diabetes is a medical condition where your body is either unable to use insulin efficiently or does not produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes can cause you to develop serious health complications over time. If you or someone you love has prediabetes, finding out what causes type 2 diabetes and how you can prevent it is a priority.

What causes type 2 diabetes?

Approximately 27 million people in the United States currently have Type 2 diabetes, making it the most common form of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be can be caused by a number of different factors, including genetic and lifestyle. While the exact cause of type 2 diabetes is not fully understood, there are certain factors that increase your chance of developing the condition.

Obesity or being overweight: When you carry extra weight and fatty tissue, especially in your belly, it can make it hard for your liver, muscle, and fat cells to use insulin well.
Insulin resistance: When your body is unable to use insulin efficiently, your pancreas needs to produce more to function. Over time your pancreas becomes unable to keep up with the added demand and your blood glucose levels rise. Insulin resistance is a primary cause of type 2 diabetes.
Inactivity: Lack of physical activity can cause you to gain weight, decreases insulin sensitivity, and limits your body from using glucose efficiently.
Family history: If someone in your family has type 2 diabetes, you are more likely to develop it yourself
Genetic makeup: People of certain races, including Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, and American Indians, tend to develop type 2 diabetes.

What are type 2 diabetes symptoms?

It is possible to have type 2 diabetes for years without being aware of it, because the condition develops slowly over time. If you are concerned that you might be developing type 2 diabetes, there are some symptoms that can indicate a problem. Type 2 diabetes symptoms include increased thirst and urination, increased hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, or unexplained weight loss. Some people may also develop sores that do not heal and numbness or tingling in their hands or feet.

How can you prevent type 2 diabetes?

Now that you are aware of type 2 diabetes causes and symptoms, we come to the most important issue: type 2 diabetes prevention. You can reduce or even reverse your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by making a few healthy lifestyle changes:

Eat a healthy diet: Eating a balanced diet can help prevent type 2 diabetes in several ways. Choose foods that are high in fiber to help improve your blood sugar control, and low in fats and carbs to keep your weight under control. Whole grain foods may help maintain blood glucose levels and prevent type 2 diabetes. Include plenty of vegetables and fruits, avoid sugary and fatty foods, and keep an eye on portion sizes.
Exercise regularly: Engaging in moderately intense exercise for 175 minutes a week (35 minutes, 5 days a week) is one of the keys to type 2 diabetes prevention. You don’t have to turn into a marathon runner to see benefits. Brisk walking, swimming, playing tennis, strength training, or other forms of exercise that increase breathing rate are ideal. Regular exercise will help you lose weight and increase your body’s ability to use insulin more effectively.
Lose weight: Losing just 5 to 7 percent of your body weight can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, although research has shown that greater weight loss is more effective at reducing diabetes risk.

Now that you have a better understanding of what causes type 2 diabetes and how you can prevent it, you can use the diabetic-friendly recipes, exercise tips, and healthy lifestyle advice on www.betterhealthkare.com to further reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.