Diabetes is a widespread condition impacting 425 million adults globally, a figure projected to increase to 592 million by 2035. It is a chronic illness that leads to elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia).
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease. Risk factors include genetic predisposition and environmental influences. The main factor that leads to the development of this serious type 2 disease is insulin resistance.
What causes Type 2 Diabetes?
Your body transforms food into glucose (sugar) for energy. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, informs your body about the amount of sugar to release into the blood.
Diabetes develops when there is insufficient insulin or when the body fails to utilize insulin effectively. This leads to an excess of sugar remaining in the bloodstream, resulting in chronic hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar levels).
Prolonged consumption of excess sugar adversely impacts your body’s ability to produce, transport, and utilize insulin. This leads to insulin resistance, which is the primary factor behind type 2 diabetes.
Is Type 2 Diabetes Hereditary?
Your genetic composition pertains to your genes or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Genetic conditions are defined by mutations in genes or alterations in your DNA sequence. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that not all genetic mutations are passed down from parents.
When you receive a genetic mutation from your parents, it is already present when you are born. However, genes can also undergo mutations or changes due to environmental influences.
Mutations that occur after birth are not passed down to offspring. If you have a first-degree relative with type 2 diabetes, your likelihood of developing the condition rises.
First-degree relatives include your siblings, parents, and children.
One research report highlighted the subsequent statistics related to family relationships:
Having a sibling with type 2 diabetes raises your risk by 2-3%.
Having two siblings with type 2 diabetes raises your risk by 30%.
The likelihood is greater if your mother, rather than your father, carries the risk.
Scientists have discovered 150 genetic variations that could heighten the risk of developing diabetes. However, the exact role these mutations play in the disease remains unclear. It is likely that type 2 diabetes results from a mix of genetic and environmental influences.
Do these statistics imply that you will definitely develop type 2 diabetes? Not really. They indicate only a familial relationship and a possible genetic tendency toward the disease. Similar lifestyles within families may also play a role in this connection.
Who Gets Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a worldwide epidemic impacting individuals everywhere. However, certain factors make some people more susceptible to developing this condition.
Eighty percent of individuals with type 2 diabetes reside in low and middle-income nations. Additionally, there is an increasing prevalence of the condition in Western Europe and Pacific island nations.
Weight: Being obese is one of the leading risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.
Age: While type 2 diabetes is commonly observed in adults over the age of 45, it can also impact children, teenagers, and young adults.
Pre-existing health issues: The likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes increases if you have certain existing conditions, such as prediabetes or hypertension.
Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent among individuals who are Asian American, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Pacific Islander, or American Indian.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include unchangeable aspects such as genetics and age. Additionally, there are behavioral factors that you can influence, such as lack of physical activity and a diet rich in sugar, saturated fats, and trans fats.
Excess Adipose Tissue
Having excess body fat contributes to insulin resistance, raising the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes by six times, irrespective of your genetic risk for the condition.
A higher body fat percentage is a risk factor by itself. However, research indicates that individuals with low muscle mass, excess fat around the abdomen, and a larger waist circumference face the greatest risk.
For individuals assigned male at birth, having a waist circumference greater than 40 inches raises your risk. For those assigned female at birth, the risk goes up if the waist measures 35 inches or more (excluding pregnancy).
Physical Inactivity
Lack of physical activity raises the likelihood of weight gain, leading to insulin resistance. While some insulin resistance is a normal part of aging, being physically inactive and gaining excess weight can exacerbate the problem.
Interestingly, insufficient physical activity raises your risk of developing issues, independent of your weight. In fact, the incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in countries with lower overall obesity levels.
Researchers attribute this trend to reduced levels of activity and changes in dietary habits. DeFronzo R, Ferrannini E, Groop L, et al. Diabete mellito di tipo 2. Nat Rev Dis Primers.
Poor Diet or Nutrition
Consuming too many calories, sugary foods and beverages, saturated fats, and trans fats contributes to obesity. Regular intake of glucose and free fatty acids impacts insulin production, resulting in insulin resistance.
Inadequate nutrition can begin in both childhood and adulthood. Studies have shown that consuming more green leafy vegetables and whole grains can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
DeFronzo R, Ferrannini E, Groop L, e altri. Diabete mellito di tipo 2. Nat Rev Dis Primers.
Reducing your consumption of these foods can also decrease your chances of developing type 2 diabetes:
Processed grains like white bread, white rice, and corn.
Red and processed meat
Beverages that are sweetened with sugar, including soda and juice.
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Age
Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, although it is most frequently diagnosed in middle-aged individuals (over 45 years old) or older. Approximately 25% of those with type 2 diabetes are 65 years of age or older.
Genetics
Having a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, with diabetes raises your likelihood of developing the condition. It is not fully understood whether this heightened risk stems from shared genetic factors, lifestyle choices, or a mix of both.
Medical History
Some health issues increase the likelihood of developing diabetes, such as insulin resistance and prediabetes. Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are elevated but not high enough to qualify for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
In the United States, 96 million adults, which accounts for one-third of the population, have prediabetes.
Researchers estimate that 80% of these individuals do not know they have the condition.
Additional health issues that elevate your risk include:
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Dyslipidemia refers to an imbalance of lipids, including cholesterol, present in the bloodstream.
Hypertriglyceridemia refers to elevated levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, present in the bloodstream.
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Polycystic ovarian syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is a hormonal disorder that results in enlarged ovaries containing cysts.
Acanthosis nigricans is characterized by hyperpigmentation or darker patches found in the body’s skin folds and is linked to insulin resistance.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease refers to the accumulation of fats and cholesterol within the blood vessels.
Behavioral Risk Factors
Along with insufficient physical activity and an unhealthy diet, the following behaviors elevate your chances of developing type 2 diabetes:1
Sleeping more than nine hours a night
Working on a rotating shift
Smoking cigarettes, regardless of weight or any other risk factors.
Drinking a reasonable quantity of alcohol
Experts indicate that 90% of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented by reducing behavioral risk factors. This involves maintaining a healthy weight, following a nutritious diet, engaging in 30 minutes of exercise daily, steering clear of smoking, and minimizing alcohol consumption.
What’s Your Risk for Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes can affect anyone, but having specific or multiple risk factors can heighten your chances of developing the condition. Discover your risk level by taking this quiz.
A Quick Review
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term health issue marked by elevated blood sugar levels. The primary reason for type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance, which arises from a mix of environmental and genetic influences.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that aids in managing the levels of glucose (blood sugar) in the bloodstream. If the body does not utilize insulin effectively, a condition known as insulin resistance occurs, leading to excess sugar remaining in the blood.
Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, but it is most frequently seen in adults aged 45 and older. Key risk factors include obesity, inadequate nutrition, and reduced physical activity. Although there is a genetic component, the precise reason for this association remains unclear.
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