Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high glucose, or sugar, levels. The hormone insulin usually regulates the glucose derived from consumed foods. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not make insulin, while in type 2 diabetes, the body does not make or use the insulin well, according to MedlinePlus. If left untreated, diabetes can cause a variety of health complication leading to eye, kidney and nerve damage, as well as the need for amputation of limbs. Diabetes has several triggers that you should avoid if you're at risk of this disease.
Genetics
Generally, type 1 diabetics inherit diabetes from both parents, according to the American Diabetes Association, or ADA. Although further research is necessary, Caucasians may be more susceptible to this type of diabetes as they have the highest rate of this form, the ADA notes. The risk of type 1 diabetes in tandem with cold weather and exposure to viruses may also trigger type 1 diabetes in those at risk of the disease.
Alternatively, type 2 diabetes has a more pronounced basis than type 1, although environmental influences are more paramount than the genetics, the ADA says. The bottom line is that genetics does play a significant role in your risk of developing the disease, but environment, such as lifestyle and eating habits may be equally at play.
Obesity
Obesity often triggers diabetes as you gradually lose sensitivity to insulin. According to the January 2011 article "Diabetes Soaring Among American Adults" published in Bloomberg BusinessWeek, diabetes increased from 9 million to 19 million between 1996 and 2007. One of the main causes, the article says, is the increasing rate of overweight or obese Americans linked to type 2 diabetes. Eating excessive calories and high-fat foods with little to no exercise is common in the Western world, the ADA notes.
Low-Fiber Diet
Eating a low-fiber diet may trigger diabetes in those who are borderline or pre-diabetic, according to Franklin House in his book "The Thirty Day Diabetes Miracle." Although a low-carb diet is mandatory for diabetics, whole grains do not metabolize quickly enough to spike blood sugar levels. In fact, fiber may help to decrease the risk of diabetes and help reverse type 2 diabetes altogether, the author notes. Soluble fiber helps to regulate and slow the absorption of sugar into the blood, according to MayoClinic.com. The body does not digest soluble fiber so it does not affect blood glucose levels at all. It does, however, improve digestion.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Genetics of Diabetes
- MedlinePlus: Diabetes
- BusinessWeek: Diabetes Soaring Among American Adults
- "The Thirty Day Diabetes Miracle"; Franklin House; 2009
- MayoClinic.com: Dietary Fiber
