Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin. It is often associated with lifestyle factors, but genetics and environmental factors also play a role:
Obesity and Physical Inactivity: Excess body fat, especially when concentrated around the abdomen, increases the body’s resistance to insulin. Additionally, physical inactivity can contribute to insulin resistance and obesity.
Poor Diet: A diet high in processed foods, red meat, unhealthy fats, and sugars can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Genetics: There is a strong genetic component to Type 2 diabetes; having a family member with diabetes increases one’s risk.
Age and Ethnicity: Risk of Type 2 diabetes increases with age, and certain ethnic groups are at higher risk, including people of African, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian descent.
Metabolic Syndrome: A cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.
