Diabetes: What are the predisposing factors?
What are the predisposing factors for diabetes? Diabetes mellitus (DM), commonly called sugar diabetes, is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States and Canada. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes affects nearly 30 million Americans—and that number continues to grow each year. As with many conditions that are prevalent in our society, genetics are one of the key risk factors involved with developing this disease. However, even if you have a family history of DM, there are steps you can take to help prevent or delay its onset.
Poor diet
Lack of exercise, obesity, and eating high-fat foods (such as candy and French fries) are some possible causes of diabetes. Metabolic syndrome, which is a condition in which you have high blood pressure and high cholesterol or suffer from prediabetes, can also lead to diabetes. You're more at risk if you have a family history of diabetes or if you smoke cigarettes. Even when you quit smoking, your risk for diabetes will only decrease by 50%. You should consult with a doctor if you think that you may be diabetic because it's often difficult to detect without help from medical professionals. Diabetes can be classified into four types: type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes, and other specific types. Type 1 is the most severe type of diabetes where the pancreas stops producing insulin altogether. Type 2 diabetes develops over time due to genetic factors like familial history, age and lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise habits. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy due to hormones that affect insulin production levels. Other specific types refers to any other form of non-gestational or non-type 1/2/3 that's been reported but isn't well understood yet.
Obesity
The high prevalence of obesity contributes to rising rates of diabetes. Around 36% of US adults over 20 years old (about 78 million people) are considered obese. It is well-known that obese people have a higher risk for many chronic conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and various cancers. According to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 79 million Americans had one or more preventable chronic diseases in 2015. Experts say these numbers underscore how important it is for clinicians to work closely with patients who are overweight or obese. Physicians should also stress healthy eating and regular exercise as an important part of their treatment strategy.
Inactivity
People who lead sedentary lifestyles often have less muscle mass. Losing muscle can be dangerous for people with diabetes because it triggers an increase in insulin resistance, which means that the body becomes less sensitive to insulin and subsequently starts to produce more of it than it needs. This forces the body to produce even more insulin until eventually there is a condition called hyperinsulinemia, a state of chronic high levels of insulin which can lead to serious problems such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. One way to avoid this problem is through incorporating activities into your routine that can promote muscle growth such as strength training or regular aerobic activity.
Insulin sensitivity varies from person to person based on genetics, hormone levels, weight and lifestyle choices including diet and exercise level.
Age
Genetic mutations can lead to a diabetic phenotype in some individuals. A well-known example is of people with cystic fibrosis, which affects about 10% of these patients. Cystic fibrosis causes recurrent lung infections that result in chronic inflammation and destruction of lung tissue, leading to a buildup of thick mucus and airway obstruction. Similarly, genetic defects that lead to pancreatic beta cell dysfunction can cause diabetes mellitus due to destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. To date, at least 18 genetic diseases have been found that can lead to diabetes mellitus.
Genetics
Type II diabetes is caused by genetics that influences how your body turns food into energy. However, certain environmental factors can also increase your risk of developing type II diabetes. These include being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, and developing high blood pressure or high cholesterol. If you have any of these risk factors, your doctor may recommend additional screenings for type II diabetes such as blood glucose testing and A1c levels (a measure of long-term blood glucose control). ##
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