Type 2 diabetes and weight go hand and hand. In fact, more than 90 percent of people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are either overweight or obese. While type 2 diabetes is a condition that people can be genetically predisposed to, unhealthy eating and poor exercise habits that lead to weight gain can make you more likely to develop the ailment. To fully understand how weight truly affects an individual’s risk of type 2 diabetes, we must first explore type 2 diabetes.
What is Type-2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a medical condition that drastically impacts the body’s ability to produce and use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is released by the pancreas that the body creates in order to help move sugar into cells that need them, so if the body is resistant to insulin blood sugar levels will correspondingly rise. High blood sugar can lead to a litany of problems, because when the cells cannot get the sugar they need, damage begins to be done to your nerves and blood vessels. This is most often seen in the extremities, the kidneys, and eyes. Some other issues that arise from high blood sugar include a greater risk for heart disease, kidney failure, vision problems, erectile dysfunction, and depression. In some cases, extremities with nerve damage must be amputated.
How Does Weight Put Me at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
When you are overweight or obese, your body is more at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. When you are carrying excess weight, your muscles and tissues slowly begin to become more resistant to the insulin hormone that the pancreas creates. This resistance makes it more difficult for glucose to enter blood cells, instead residing in the bloodstream, leading to the issues mentioned above.
In particular, studies have shown some evidence that fat cells in the body are even more resistant to insulin than muscles and tissues, meaning not just weight but body composition is something to pay attention to in regards to type 2 diabetes. Belly fat and weight carried around the waist is much more dangerous to developing type 2 diabetes then fat on the hips or thighs.
Other Risk Factors for Developing Type 2 Diabetes
Obesity and excess weight are not the only risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. Here are some other risk factors for type 2 diabetes:
Activity Level
You put yourself in danger of developing type 2 diabetes if you live a lifestyle devoid of activity. Muscle cells are better at receiving insulin than fat cells, so working out can decrease your insulin resistance. Exercise also lowers your blood sugar levels.
History of Type 2 Diabetes in the Family
If your family is predisposed to type-2 diabetes, you should be extra cautious with your weight and lifestyle. Make sure you know your family medical history
Age
The older you get, the more at risk you are for developing type 2 diabetes. As we age, the pancreas is not as efficient in producing insulin and the cells are more resistant to the insulin.
Nutrition and What You Eat
If you eat unhealthy food, you are at a greater risk for type 2 diabetes. In particular, a diet that is heavy in fat and simple carbohydrates and low in fiber is susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes.
Contact a Doctor if You Are Overweight & Have a History of Type 2 Diabetes in the Family
If you are overweight and have a history of type 2 diabetes in your family, see a doctor immediately. It is important to start treatment for type 2 diabetes as soon as possible for best results. Part of this treatment will include losing weight with more exercise and a better diet. If you are looking for alternative treatments, Synergy Research Centers in San Diego offers medical research studies for those with type 2 diabetes in San Diego. Contact Synergy Research Centers for more details today.