Overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity are the main causes of type 2 diabetes. People who are overweight or obese and not physically active are more likely to develop this condition. Excess weight can lead to insulin resistance, which is a common symptom of type 2 diabetes. The location of body fat also plays a role in the development of this condition.
No matter what type of diabetes you have, it can cause too much sugar in your blood, leading to serious health problems. Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) is a program that provides one-on-one support from certified professionals who are specially trained in diabetes care and management. Prediabetes is often the precursor to diabetes, unless steps are taken to prevent it from progressing. Glucose, a sugar, is the main source of energy for cells that make up muscles and other tissues.
Even if someone looks thin on the outside, they may have fat on the inside that no one can see, putting them at risk for type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, there is no cure for type 2 diabetes, but losing weight, eating well, and exercising can help manage the disease. An estimated 84 million people in the United States have prediabetes, meaning their blood sugar (or blood glucose) level is high but not high enough to be considered diabetes yet. You can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes such as losing a small amount of weight and getting more physical activity, even if you're at high risk.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin production increases but there is insulin resistance and signs and symptoms of diabetes. People of Asian descent in the normal weight range may have too much visceral fat and be at risk for type 2 diabetes, even with a lower BMI. But what causes blood sugar levels to rise in diabetes? What is the root cause of diabetes? Type 2 diabetes develops when the pancreas produces less insulin than the body needs and the body's cells stop responding to insulin. For example, you may have a genetic mutation that makes you susceptible to type 2, but if you take good care of your body, you may not develop diabetes.
For people with prediabetes, metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza or others), an oral medication for diabetes, may be prescribed to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
