With more than 500 million diabetics affected around the world, diabetes is considered one of the most common cases that endocrinologists treat in their clinics. This chronic health condition prevents the body from maintaining normal blood sugar levels. Untreated diabetes can lead to serious complications in the long term like heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, vision loss, etc.
Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: What’s the Difference?
Diabetes is often a silent condition, and people can easily miss or misdiagnose its symptoms without regular blood sugar testing and medical checkups. The glucose-irregulator disrupts the natural ability to control carbohydrates circulating around the cardiovascular system.
The first type is a rare, autoimmune disease where one’s immune system mistakenly destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It’s usually spotted in childhood or adolescence years, setting the patient up for lifelong insulin therapy.
Diabetes rates are on the surge among younger generations after being tied with adults above 40 in the past. Today, type 2 diabetes consists of around 90% of diabetic cases. Unlike its fellow, Type 2 often develops due to lifestyle risk factors that turn the body into an insulin-resistant
state or even destroy the pancreas’ ability to produce insulin for maintaining normal blood sugar levels.
Top Causes of Diabetes Based on Endocrinology Perspective
Genetics and Destructive Immune Reactions
Like everything in the human body, genetics play a major role in increasing the likelihood of type 1 and 2 diabetes. In Type 1, passing down certain genes may trigger an immune attack that backfires on the pancreas. In Type 2, some inherited traits influence how efficiently the body processes insulin and glucose in addition to daily risk factors like stress, PTSD, and more. Whether it’s T1D or T2D, both cases result in complete insulin deficiency.
Poor Nutrition and Highly Processed Meals
Relying on nutrition packed with refined carbohydrates, sugary beverages, and processed foods spikes insulin resistance and leads to obesity, which negatively impacts blood sugar regulation and healthy pancreatic function.
Obesity
According to the World Health Organization, obesity is the underlying cause of 44% of diabetes cases worldwide. Described as diabesity, extra weight not only hinders a person’s ability to enjoy an active, healthy life but also increases the risk of T2D. Body fat interferes with insulin’s job by producing inflammatory substances and fatty acids that hinder its effect. This leads to what we call insulin resistance.
Inactive Lifestyle
The lack of exercise along with a couch-potato lifestyle makes you prone to hyperglycemia. In other terms, unstable blood sugar levels drop a body’s insulin sensitivity, accumulating glucose and increasing metabolic disorders, T2D, and stubborn fat loss.
Prevention: Beyond Blood Sugar Testing
The genetic nature of type 1 diabetes makes it unavoidable. However, T2D can be reversed early on and even prevented by adopting healthier lifestyle habits.
Live by a Balanced Nutrition
Steer away from processed goods! Leading a healthy life lies in the subtle choices of everyday, from opting for whole foods, consuming organic vegetables and fruits, and relying on lean proteins and healthy fats. The healthier the diet gets, the less T2D-prone one becomes.
If you are planning on pursuing nutritious eating, you can consult a dietitian who will support you in every step of your journey.
Engage in Activity
Instead of spending the week (10,080 worth of minutes) laying around, dedicating 150 minutes (equal to 2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate activity per week does wonders.
Regular exercises increase “skeletal muscle GLUT4 expression and augment insulin receptor signaling and oxidative capacity, which optimizes insulin action and glucose oxidation and storage,” says the National Institute of Health when discussing the role of sports in fighting diabetes. In short, routine exercises improve insulin sensitivity in individuals with T2D and lower the chances of having it.
Maintain Optimal Weight
A healthy BMI indicator speaks volumes about the body’s status and strength against risk factors, including type 2 diabetes. Whether it’s fat accumulation on the liver and muscles, spread inflammation, impaired insulin secretion, or low sensitivity, all increase the odds of triggering diabetes. That’s why maintaining the perfect weight is crucial to avoid the above complications and disorders.
Stress No More
Did you know that studies have shown a correlation between traumatic events and the subsequent development of diabetes? It can be the sudden death of a beloved one, a nerve-wracking environment, a fried nervous system, etc. That’s why it’s important to intentionally practice mindfulness through yoga or relaxation techniques, as chronic stress can raise blood sugar levels.
It’s true that diabetes might persist for a lifetime, but with the right knowledge, early countermeasures, and endocrinologist follow-ups, T2D can be reversible if the patient is cautious enough. As for type 1 diabetes, daily insulin injections are a must, along with regular blood sugar testing and medical care.
Who said diabetes is a dead end? People can lead long, healthy, and fulfilling lives!
