15 Reasons Why People Get Type 2 Diabetes

ype 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that also happens to be chronic.

For some people, their bodies can’t produce the required amount of insulin. In some cases, their bodies can’t properly process the insulin they produce.

These two conditions make the blood sugar levels rise causing Type 2 diabetes.

As horrible as it might sound, diabetes is something that can be controlled with proper treatment.

All you need to do is to stick to a good Type 2 diabetes treatment plan and a healthy lifestyle.

Diabetes is often linked to factors like lack of exercise and obesity, but there are other factors that cause Type 2 diabetes in a person.

Given below are 15 reasons why people get Type 2 diabetes—    

1. Excess Body Weight.

It has long been known that being obese or immensely overweight can lead to Type 2 diabetes.

But do you know why?

It has been found that when there is a lot of extra fat in the body, especially around the abdomen (visceral fat), insulin resistance can occur.

It happens because this particular type of fat may release some harmful substances that create an interference with the way that insulin is processed in the body.

Which ultimately leads to the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

By losing some amount of weight, a person can lower their chances of getting diabetes quite significantly.          

2. Lack of Physical Activity.

One of the major reasons why people get Type 2 diabetes is a lack of physical activity.

Physical activity is necessary for your body to use insulin more efficiently. When a person is not that active, the cells in their body start being less responsive to insulin.

When this happens, blood sugar levels begin to rise. Eventually, people get diabetes.

So, for the prevention of diabetes and other ‘lifestyle diseases’, it is important for you to make certain lifestyle changes; especially if you are leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Consciously make a decision to be more active, physically. For example, go on daily walks, start playing a sport, practice yoga or join a dance class.

There are lots of fun ways to keep yourself moving. Choose an activity you’ll like and stick to it.

It might seem tough at first but slowly, you will see the positive changes in your health and your own reflection.  

3. Family History.

When it comes to the possibility of a person getting diabetes, a major deciding factor is family history, especially in cases of Type 2 diabetes.

If one or multiple people in your family suffer from diabetes, then chances are that you would too.

It is because a number of genetic and environmental elements mixed together are passed down through the generations; such as weight, diet and exercise.

What else?

People with a family history of diabetes can develop it earlier than individuals who do not have diabetic people in their family.

What can be done about it?

If you have a family history of diabetes, you can still reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes significantly by making certain lifestyle changes.

Engage in regular exercise, follow a healthy diet and stick to a healthy weight if you want to decrease the chances of getting Type 2 diabetes.

You would also need to go for regular check-ups and monitor your blood sugar levels to stay ahead of the disease.

Early detection and timely intervention is crucial if you want to lead a normal life despite having Type 2 diabetes.            

4. Ethnicity.

When we discuss reasons why people get Type 2 diabetes, ethnicity barely makes it to the list. However, this is something that can’t be ignored.

Studies have found that people belonging to some specific ethnicities are predisposed to suffer from Type 2 diabetes.

Those ethnicities include African Americans, Native Americans, Asian, Latinos, people of African and African Caribbean descent, and people of South Asian descent.

Though genetically predisposed, people belonging to these ethnicities can still minimise their chances of having Type 2 diabetes.

All they need to do is get some exercise every day, eat healthy foods and maintain appropriate weight based on their height and age.      

5. Age

Age is a huge factor when it comes to getting Type 2 diabetes.

The more your age increases, so does the risk of getting diabetes; especially after you turn 45 years old.

But due to a rise in obesity and decline in physical activity, more and more children, teenagers and young adults are getting diagnosed with diabetes.

Making the above-mentioned lifestyle changes can be quite helpful in keeping diabetes at bay.

6. Prediabetes.

Prediabetes is the condition where the body’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal. But still, they are not high enough to be considered as type 2 diabetes.

If prediabetes is left untreated, it can greatly increase the chances of getting diabetes.

It also increases the possibility of a person developing health issues such as heart diseases and even stroke.

Making good lifestyle choices (healthy food, exercise, proper weight maintenance etc.) can help an individual manage their prediabetic condition and avoid getting Type 2 diabetes.      

7. Dietary Factors.

Your diet plays a very important role when it comes to developing and managing diabetes.

If a person consumes great amounts of refined carbohydrates (white rice, white bread, sugary drinks etc.) on a daily basis, then the risk of that person getting diabetes increases.

If a person consumes a super-healthy diet of fruits, whole grains and vegetables on a daily basis, then the risk of that person getting diabetes decreases.

Taking control of your diet and actively leading a healthy lifestyle is the key to a diabetes-free life.

8. Smoking.

It is no secret that smoking can cause a host of illnesses in a person. It can also decrease a person’s life span by a lot.

One of the illnesses caused by smoking is Type 2 diabetes.

Smoking increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes by 30%- 40%. Non-smokers do not face this extra risk.

Plus, if you already suffer from diabetes, then smoking can make it worse and put you under the risk of facing other diabetes-related health issues.

Hence, it is a no-brainer that if you want to avoid getting diabetes, you need to quit smoking. Or at the very least, reduce the number of cigarettes you have in a day.

It would also help you maintain overall health.      

9. PCOS.

PCOS is a common hormonal disorder suffered by women all over the world. Its symptoms include acne, excess hair growth, irregular periods and fertility issues.

People suffering from PCOS may observe one, two or all of the symptoms mentioned above.

Over the decades, it has been found that women who have PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) are at a remarkably higher risk of getting Type 2 diabetes than women without PCOS.

This happens mainly due to the fact that greater insulin resistance is seen in women with PCOS than the ones who don’t have PCOS.

The bodies of women who suffer from PCOS are unable to use insulin properly, causing blood sugar levels to increase considerably.

Hence, they end up getting Type 2 diabetes.

A proper diet and consistent exercise can help in managing the symptoms of PCOS, consequently avoiding diabetes.

In some cases, medication may be needed to avoid, or at the very least, delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.              

10. Gestational Diabetes.

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is the type of diabetes that can develop in a woman while she’s going through pregnancy.

GDM (Gestational diabetes) can be managed well with exercise, proper diet and medication (in some cases). It usually gets resolved soon after the birth of the baby.

As it has already been established, Type 2 diabetes is an incurable health condition that remains lifelong.

It occurs when a person’s body can’t produce enough insulin or can't properly process the insulin it produces.

However, if a woman suffers from GDM (Gestational diabetes) during her pregnancy, the chances of her getting Type 2 diabetes later in life increases significantly.

11. Hormonal Imbalances.

Though not all, some types of hormonal imbalances can cause Type 2 diabetes.

The hormonal disorders named Cushing syndrome and Hypothyroidism are known to increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes in people who are suffering from those disorders.

Insulin resistance is one of the major factors when it comes to Type 2 diabetes. And insulin resistance is controlled by hormones like insulin and cortisol.

Other hormones, the imbalance of which can lead to diabetes are, thyroid hormones, sex hormones and gut hormones.

A good diet, proper exercise and medication can help a person in keeping their blood sugar at healthy levels.

If a person suffers from hormonal imbalance of any kind, regular checkups are necessary to make sure that their health is at an optimal state.

Remember that hormonal imbalance can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes complications such as nerve damage, heart diseases and kidney problems.  

12. Sleep Disturbances.

Type 2 diabetes and sleep disturbances often coexist and are often linked together, for the worse.

When a person with diabetes is also suffering from any sleep disorder (sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome etc.), it gets harder for that individual to keep their blood sugar levels in check.

In addition to that, it affects their overall health and creates various health issues. It also lowers the quality of the life they are living.

Simply put, sleep disturbances worsen the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.

If a person does not have diabetes yet, but suffers from regular sleep disturbances, the chance of that person getting diabetes in the future goes up.

It is important for a person to get proper sleep in order to avoid diabetes and other health issues.

A person who already has diabetes needs to get proper sleep in order to be able to control their blood sugar levels properly.

13. Stress.

Chronic stress is bad for the mind, body and soul. Stress can lead to a host of physical health and mental health issues.

And one of those issues is Type 2 diabetes.

Stress can greatly increase the chances of a person developing diabetes; as insulin sensitivity can be affected by chronic stress.

Stress can also impact the management of diabetes negatively.

Chronic stress can influence lifestyle choices (exercise, diet etc.) negatively and make diabetes worse.

14. High Blood Pressure.

High blood pressure or hypertension can be found in people with diabetes more often than not, and vice versa.

In fact, in a lot of cases, diabetes and hypertension go hand in hand.

The relation between hypertension and diabetes has been described as bidirectional as having one condition significantly increases the chances of developing the other one as well.

Hypertension or high blood pressure can alter insulin resistance, which ultimately leads to Type 2 diabetes.

However, regular exercise, an apt diet, good lifestyle choices and proper sleep can help in managing or avoiding both conditions.

15. High cholesterol.

Though high cholesterol does not cause diabetes directly, it can highly influence the onset of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

More often than not, when a person is suffering from diabetes (Type 2), they are also afflicted with high LDL cholesterol (or bad cholesterol) levels and low HDL cholesterol (or good cholesterol) levels.

They also have high triglycerides. The condition is called diabetic dyslipidemia.

A healthy diet, regular exercise and medication is very important for a person with this condition to prevent cardiovascular problems.

Type 2 Diabetes FAQs

What are the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?

The Type 2 diabetes symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, fatigue and frequent infections.

Other than the above-mentioned symptoms, there are other lesser known symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.

Those symptoms are darkened skin patches, yeast infections, blurred vision, increased hunger, numbness in hands or feet, slow healing of wounds and unexplained weight loss.      

Can you control Type 2 diabetes?

With a proper management plan, it is possible for a person with Type 2 diabetes to thrive.

Treatment for Type 2 diabetes can differ on a case-to-case basis. Hence, it is important for you to follow the advice of your own diabetitian or doctor.

The doctor you consult would be able to chart out a diabetes management plan pertaining to your specific needs and state of health.

Currently, there is no known cure for Type 2 diabetes.

What does Type 2 diabetes mean?

Type 2 diabetes is a disease that is caused by unusually high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels.

Blood glucose levels in the body get higher than normal when it doesn't produce enough insulin.

Blood glucose levels can also rise when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin.    

What happens if you get Type 2 diabetes?

If you get Type 2 diabetes and it is left untreated, it can have adverse effects on your body.

Over a period of time, your kidneys might fail, your eyes could get damaged, you might face neurological issues and even suffer from heart problems.

However, if you follow a suitable diabetes management plan and lead a healthy lifestyle, it is quite possible for you to live a normal life.

Can stress cause diabetes?

Though stress is not responsible for causing diabetes, it is still a major contributing factor when it comes to making diabetes worse.

How, you may ask?

When a person is going through stress, their blood sugar levels can rise. Stress also affects the way the body processes the insulin it produces.

So, stress, especially if it goes on for a long time can worsen the effects of diabetes and make it harder to manage diabetes.

What are the 4 stages of Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes usually has four stages. Those stages are—

a. Insulin Resistance.

b. Prediabetes.

c. Type 2 diabetes.

d. Type 2 diabetes with vascular complications.