One thing that many people may wonder about is the connection between obesity and diabetes. It is true that a number of recent studies have shown a direct causal link between a patient’s obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes.
In fact, this form of diabetes, also known as noninsulin dependent diabetes, has been found to develop in both overweight children and teens. This form of diabetes can develop due to an interference with the natural flow of insulin through the body caused by obesity. It is not caused because a person’s body has trouble producing insulin like is the case with those that suffer from type 1 diabetes.
In fact, quite the opposite is true. A person with this strain of diabetes actually produces too much insulin. This causes the body to develop an insulin resistance. This in turn will stop the insulin from helping maintain healthy levels of blood sugar in the body.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease. 90 percent of diabetes patients are diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes. In the past, a person typically developed this disease after the age of 40. Recently, however, children and teens have been diagnosed with the disease at much higher levels. This is due to an increase in childhood obesity that has occurred in recent decades. An increase in obesity among adults has also resulted in more adults being diagnosed with the disease as well.
Specific kinds of fat may be more responsible for the development of type 2 diabetes than others. In particular, studies have linked the development of abdominal fat to an increased intolerance to glucose. Individuals with a BMI, or body mass index, of more than 40 also have a much higher chance of developing the disease. For comparison, a healthy person should have a BMI that is between 18.4 and 25.
People with certain kinds of diets are also at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This includes individuals that have diets high in sugars, starches, and carbohydrates. It also includes people that have diets that are low in proteins and the good kinds of fat.
Thankfully, preventing type 2 diabetes is very possible. Studies have shown that people that have lost even a small amount of weight lowered their chances of developing the disease by up to ten percent. Over all, the best way to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes is by having a balanced diet and exercising on a consistent basis.