We all know that diabetes has become a very common disease in our country. Maybe someone in your family, a friend, or you yourself have this condition. But why is Type 2 Diabetes so common? Today, we will simply talk about the real reasons that affect this and what is happening inside our bodies that we do not understand.
Why do we get diabetes? The role of insulin
To understand this, let's first take a look at how our bodies work. Imagine that our bodies are like a car. This car needs gasoline to run. Similarly, the billions of cells in our bodies need energy to function. This energy comes from the sugar, glucose , that is formed when we digest the food we eat. This glucose is found in the blood.
But this glucose can't just go into the cells. It needs a "key." That key is the hormone insulin . This insulin is made by an organ called the pancreas in our stomach. When we eat, the glucose level in the blood increases, so the pancreas produces insulin and adds it to the blood. This insulin opens the "doors" of the cells and lets the glucose in. Then the cells get energy and the blood sugar level is controlled.
So, diabetes develops when this process goes awry. It can happen in three main ways:
1. Your pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin .
2. Even though the pancreas produces insulin, the body's cells do not respond properly to that insulin . It's like a tortoise locked in a door even though it has a key. In medical terms, we call this insulin resistance .
3. Both of these things happen together.
People with type 2 diabetes produce insulin in their bodies. But the problem is that there is not enough of it or the cells are unable to use it. As a result, glucose cannot enter the cells and accumulates in the blood. That's what we call 'high blood sugar'.
What are the main risk factors?
Diabetes is not caused by one single factor, but by a combination of factors. Let's look at the main ones.
Body weight and lack of exercise
This is the main and most common reason . The risk of diabetes increases significantly when body weight, especially above the ideal weight for height. What is even more dangerous is the accumulation of fat in the abdominal area (belly fat) . These extra fat cells directly contribute to insulin resistance.
An inactive lifestyle, meaning sitting for most of the day and not doing any exercise, increases this risk even more. Losing just 5% to 10% of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk of diabetes.
Bad eating habits
Everything we eat affects blood sugar levels. In particular,
- Oily foods (e.g., short-eats, kottu, fried rice)
- Sweetened drinks and foods (cakes, biscuits, toffee, sweet drinks)
- Processed meats
- Excessive intake of quickly digestible carbohydrates like white bread and white rice
Eating habits like these can lead to weight gain and insulin resistance.
Family history (lineage)
This is also a very important factor. If your mother, father, brother or sister has diabetes, you are at a higher risk of developing it than others. There is a genetic link to this. But just because someone in your family has it doesn't mean you will definitely develop it. But you should be more careful than others.
Age and race
The risk of developing diabetes gradually increases after the age of 45. And surveys conducted around the world have shown that this risk is higher for some ethnic groups. For example, we, who are Asians, have a relatively higher risk.
Other health conditions related to diabetes
There are certain diseases that can lead to diabetes. If you have one or more of these, it is wise to talk to a doctor and get tested for diabetes.
| Health condition/risk factor | Simple explanation |
|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure | There is a strong connection between high blood pressure and diabetes. |
| Blood fat level (Cholesterol) | Decreased levels of good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood and an increase in a type of fat called triglycerides. |
| Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) | This is a hormonal condition that affects women. Many people with PCOS also have insulin resistance. |
| Gestational Diabetes | Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy and disappears after delivery. People who have this condition are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. |
| Prediabetes | A condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. This is like a warning. |
Other reasons
- Smoking: People who smoke cigarettes have a 30%-40% higher risk of diabetes than those who do not smoke.
- Sleep problems: Not getting enough sleep reduces the body's hormonal function and insulin sensitivity.
- Certain medications: Some medications for high blood pressure, mental illness, and cholesterol (e.g., steroids, some diuretics) can increase blood sugar levels when used long-term. However, do not stop taking the medication your doctor has prescribed because of this. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor.
How do you know if you have diabetes?
A doctor usually confirms that you have diabetes by looking at blood test results. The diagnosis is made through one or more of these.
- Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS): This test is performed after fasting for at least 8-10 hours and the value is 126 mg/dL or higher.
- HbA1c test: This measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months. If the value is 6.5% or higher.
- OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test): If the blood sugar level is 200 mg/dL or higher two hours after drinking a glucose solution.
Usually, a doctor does not diagnose a disease with just one test, but confirms this by re-examining it on another day.
The most important thing is not to panic if you have one or more of these risk factors. It doesn't mean you have diabetes, but it does mean it's time to take care of your lifestyle.
Take-Home Message
- The main causes of type 2 diabetes are excess body weight (especially belly fat) and lack of exercise . These are things we can change.
- If someone in your family has diabetes, you need to be more careful than others.
- Other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, increase the risk of diabetes. Therefore, it is important to control those conditions well.
- A healthy diet, daily exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight for your height are the best ways to protect yourself from diabetes.
- If you have any concerns or risk factors for diabetes, talk openly with your doctor about it and get the necessary advice and tests. The earlier it is detected, the easier it is to control.
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