| Type II diabetes is a lifestyle disease and several | | | | diabetes than non smokers. In addition smoking can |
| lifestyle factors are known to cause Type II | | | | also aggravate the symptoms in a diabetic patient as |
| diabetes. In addition heredity also plays a major role | | | | it increases the chances of high cholesterol levels and |
| in Type II diabetes. Each of these factors is detailed | | | | high blood pressure which are harmful to a diabetic |
| below: | | | | patient. |
| Genetics | | | | Diet |
| If close relatives have Type II diabetes then the | | | | A fat and carbohydrate rich diet can cause diabetes |
| chances of developing the disease increases | | | | and increase the risk factors in patients already |
| drastically when compared to the general population. | | | | suffering from the disease. |
| Studies have been conducted on various genes that | | | | Alcohol |
| are thought to cause the disease, but results have | | | | A high dose of alcohol can also be a cause of Type |
| varied across ethnic groups. Genes that influence fat | | | | II diabetes. Heavy alcohol use can lead to lever |
| metabolism are thought to play a major role in Type | | | | diseases which in turn can cause obesity and thus |
| II diabetes. The role of genetics in Type II diabetes | | | | lead to Type II diabetes. |
| is much higher than that for Type II diabetes. | | | | Age |
| Ethnicity | | | | Type II diabetes usually manifests itself after the |
| It is found that Asians, Africans and Hispanics are | | | | age of 45, although it can be seen rarely in younger |
| more prone to Type II diabetes thus pointing to a | | | | people too. Age is a major risk factor of Type II |
| possible link between ethnicity and diabetes. | | | | diabetes and affects more than 10% of world |
| Stress | | | | population above the age of 65. |
| Although stress may not directly cause diabetes, it | | | | In Utero Malnutrition |
| can cause diabetes symptoms to appear in a | | | | Although not proven, some studies point to a |
| pre-diabetic person. It can also aggravate the disease | | | | possible relationship between malnutrition while being |
| in someone who already suffers from diabetes. The | | | | in the mother's womb and development of Type II |
| adrenaline hormone released in a typical stressful | | | | diabetes later in life. It is suspected that in utero |
| situation is known to impair the function of insulin | | | | malnutrition may interfere with beta cell development |
| thus resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. Even | | | | in the pancreas. |
| physical stress caused by an illness or severe pain | | | | In addition to these factors, other conditions such as |
| such as after a surgery can cause the typical stress | | | | use of certain medicines can trigger diabetic like |
| response and cause an increase blood sugar. | | | | symptoms known as secondary diabetes. Gestational |
| Physical Inactivity | | | | diabetes is caused when a person is pregnant and is |
| A sedentary lifestyle is known to cause diabetes. | | | | found to disappear once the baby is born. However, |
| This combined with obesity is one of the major risk | | | | people who suffer from gestational diabetes are |
| factors of diabetes. In fact studies have shown that | | | | more prone to develop Type II diabetes at a later |
| people with diabetes typically eat much more, are | | | | stage. During pregnancy insulin sensitivity is lowered |
| fatter and have a less active lifestyle than their own | | | | because of the action of placental hormones. |
| siblings. | | | | Repeated pregnancies may increase the chances of |
| Obesity | | | | developing diabetes especially in overweight and |
| A body mass index higher than 30 is a sure sign of | | | | obese women. |
| impending diabetes. The heavier the body, the higher | | | | Advances in molecular genetics have helped to |
| is the energy requirements of the cells. The pancreas | | | | identify some specific and clinically recognizable forms |
| keeps producing additional insulin till one day it just | | | | of diabetes. However these subtypes of diabetes |
| tires out and stops working. This will lead to an | | | | such as maturity onset diabetes of the young more |
| increase in blood sugar levels as the cells are no | | | | commonly known as MODY are less common and |
| longer able to convert that into energy. Childhood | | | | contribute to just 5% of cases. |
| obesity is also known to cause diabetes at a later | | | | It is important to note that diabetes is not a |
| stage in life. | | | | contagious disease. Thus a person suffering from |
| Smoking | | | | diabetes cannot pass it on to people who come into |
| Frequent smoking is another cause of Type II | | | | contact with them. It is a lifestyle disease without |
| diabetes. Smoking is found to increase fasting glucose | | | | any cure; however with careful management one can |
| levels and some studies have shown that smokers | | | | control the symptoms of the disease and lead a |
| have almost a 50% increased chance of developing | | | | healthy life. |