The Cause of Diabetes Type 2

The cause of diabetes type 2 is explained clearly right here, for everyone to understand. The easiest answer is there is too much sugar in your bloodstream. How does this happen? Why does this happen?

The answer also involves:

• Your pancreas
• Your insulin levels
• Your blood glucose levels

Your Pancreas

Your pancreas is located behind your stomach on the left side of your body. It is near your waist. Your pancreas has beta cells that produce a chemical, insulin. Insulin is a hormone.

Normally when you eat, the pancreas produces insulin that mixes with digested food. The food has turned to glucose, known as blood sugar. The insulin allows the cells of your body to use glucose. The glucose is fuel for the body - fuel to maintain a body temperature of 98.6°F; and, fuel to repair cells and grow new ones.

What causes diabetes? Type 2 diabetes happens when one of the following occurs:

• Your pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin.
• Your pancreas produces very little insulin.
• Your body doesn’t recognize the insulin and cannot use it.

When this happens, the sugar (glucose) stays in your bloodstream. It does not get into your cells. It spills out into your urine and leaves the body. Your cells are starving for fuel.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your fasting blood sugar level is above 125 mg/dL. Fasting blood sugar is the level after a night’s sleep with nothing to eat or drink.

The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 95% of all cases of diabetes are type 2. About 80% of them are overweight. It is associated with:

• Older adults
• Obesity
• Family history
• Physical inactivity
• Certain ethnicities

Facts About Diabetes

You might be interested in some facts about diabetes. You probably know someone with diabetes. Researchers estimate that:

• 23.6 million people in the U. S.
• 7.8 % of the population

have diabetes.

About 5.7 million people do not know they have diabetes! If you are African-American, Hispanic or a Native Indian, your chances of getting type 2 diabetes are greater.

Thirty years ago, the only way to treat diabetes was using insulin from cows and pigs. Today there is a man-made version of insulin. Chemists make in a laboratory. Thirty years ago there were no proven tests for patient’s blood sugar levels. All of that has changed.

Prevention

If you want to know how to prevent diabetes, try to control your risk factors. The single most important thing you can do for yourself is MOVE!! Move your body as in exercise. Just go for a walk. Each day add ten more steps to your walk.

Walking will change your attitude. Walking will increase your self-esteem. Walking will improve your blood sugar levels. Walking will help you to lose weight.

If you don’t want to walk, then join the local YMCA, or a gym. You can lift weights or you could swim. Swimming is especially helpful if you are overweight. You can do in the water what is difficult to do on land. There are classes for aqua aerobics that get you moving.

The question was, “How to prevent diabetes?” The second most important thing you can do for yourself is lose some weight. The easiest way to lose weight is to get rid of most of the fat in your diet. If you cook with butter, change to olive oil. If you use cream in your coffee or tea, learn to drink it black. The pounds will fall off you.

Fill your stomach with water. That way you will eat less at mealtime. Eat a handful of walnuts or almonds as a snack. They are good for you. They keep the hungry horrors away from you.

Read labels on the food you buy. Stay away from saturated fats and partially hydrogenated fats. They are in all kinds of crackers, cookies, and cakes and frozen entrees.

Conclusion

Now that you know the cause of diabetes type 2 it is possible to reverse type 2 diabetes. You just need to lose some weight and add exercise to your day. Follow your doctor’s directions. Faithfully check your blood sugar levels. Good luck!!

Margaret Stenerson
February 22, 2010