Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of this disease. It means that your cells cannot properly use insulin, or your body does not make enough. When this happens, you will be unable to use glucose, which is your body's main source of fuel. While there are some risk factors that you cannot control, such as age, genetics and ethnicity, altering certain lifestyle behaviors can reduce your risk of developing this disease.
Obesity
According to the Obesity Society, "Carrying extra body weight and body fat go hand and hand with the development of type 2 diabetes." If you are overweight and consuming more calories than you need, your body will have to work harder to produce enough insulin to handle the extra glucose. In the initial stages, your pancreas will attempt to keep up with the need for additional insulin and try to regulate your blood sugar level. Eventually this places to much strain on your system. Over time, your system will no longer be able to meet the demand for insulin and your blood sugar levels will rise. If left untreated, you may develop diabetes. The Obesity Society claims that reducing your weight even a small amount is beneficial. Losing just 5 to10 percent of your current weight can prevent or delay the onset of this condition.
Sedentary Lifestyle
A lack of physical activity raises your risk of diabetes. If you tend to be inactive, you are at a greater risk of being overweight, which increases your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. In addition, the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse notes that participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program who combined weight loss with regular physical activity helped delay or prevent the onset of this disease.
Both weight loss and regular exercise help your body to produce insulin and process blood glucose. The University of Iowa states that when you exercise, your cells need even more glucose, so you can continue to work out. In addition, regular exercise makes your cells more sensitive to insulin, so your body gets better at using it. Both of these situations can help to lower your blood sugar levels, during exercise and at rest. However, if you remain inactive and fail to take care of your diabetes, your body's ability to utilize insulin will get progressively worse and your blood glucose levels will continue to rise.
Additional Causes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states there are other risk factors for type 2 diabetes that you cannot control. If you are at a higher risk, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly are even more essential. Talk to your doctor about a prevention program if you are over the age of 45, have a family history of diabetes, experienced diabetes during a pregnancy, gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or are African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American or Asian.
