Cause of type 2 diabetes

Although the cause of insulin resistance is yet to be found, it is known that it is affected by behavioural risk factors being triggered by the environment.

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There are several factors that come into play when discussing the cause of type 2 diabetes. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, the chances of developing type 2 diabetes are very much affected by behavioural risk factors.

Risk factors causing type 2 diabetes

Age: Simply put, your chances of developing type 2 diabetes increase with age. Not uncommonly, you gain weight when you get older and weight can play a big part in developing type 2 diabetes. Usually type 2 diabetes is seen in individuals over 40, but in recent years it has started to develop earlier.

Genetics: If you have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes, you are at a greater risk of developing it too. The risk depends on how direct the line to the relative is. If one of your parents have type 2 diabetes, you will have a one-in-three chance of getting it too.
Ethnicity: Ethnicity can play a role and it is seen that African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans / Pacific Islanders hold a bigger risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It is seen 6 times more often in South Asian areas than in the UK
Inactivity and unhealthy lifestyle: Obesity and unhealthy living are some of the major risk factors in the development of type 2 diabetes. Exercising is necessary for a healthy weight loss and not only is it good for the body to move, exercise benefits the blood glucose levels and improves glycemic control. If you have pre-diabetes exercise can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and if you already have it, exercise can help your body to produce insulin.

Source: NHS

Last updated: 15/02/2019

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