In May 2020, over 3.9 million adult Filipinos were diagnosed with diabetes. A large portion of that figure is due to type 2 diabetes, a condition in which your body either fails to produce enough insulin or properly metabolizes the supply.
In contrast to type 1 diabetes, experts categorize type 2 diabetes as a lifestyle disease. That means it is due to unhealthy habits such as junk food consumption and a lack of regular exercise.
Moreover, patients with type 2 diabetes had a 10% greater risk of CAD (coronary artery disease), 58% of stroke, and 112% increased risk of heart failure. Therefore, type 2 diabetes is a substantial risk factor for CVD (cardiovascular disease).
In this article, we will tackle what causes type 2 diabetes, its link with heart disease, and ways to prevent this disease.
Major Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
- Insulin resistance: Muscle, fat, and liver cells do not properly interact with the insulin hormone. Since these cells aren’t able to take in enough sugar, you, in turn, consume less sugar than what is necessary.
- Lack of insulin production: The pancreas fails to produce an adequate supply of insulin, so it cannot keep blood sugar levels in the cells in check.
The following factors may also increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes:
- Weight
Being overweight or obese—especially when the distribution of fat is mostly in your abdomen rather than your hips or thighs—indicates a higher risk. Regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman, the wider your waist circumference, the higher your risk of type 2 diabetes is. - Inactivity
The less active you are, the more prone you are to type 2 diabetes. On the contrary, physical activity promotes the burning of glucose for energy, helps you lose weight, and improves your cells’ response to insulin. - Family history
Having parents or siblings with type 2 diabetes predisposes you to the disease, as well. - Ethnicity and race
For still unverifiable reasons, white people are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than their Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander counterparts. - Lipid levels in the blood
Low levels of the “good” or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. - Age
Type 2 diabetes risk also rises with age, especially after the age of 45. - Prediabetes
In prediabetes or diabetes mellitus, you may observe a higher level of blood than the normal range but still not high enough to be considered a case of diabetes. However, this condition frequently progresses to type 2 diabetes if not treated or controlled. - Risks associated with pregnancy
During pregnancy—especially in the second or third trimester—your glucose level may rise. This is known as gestational diabetes, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, although the high blood sugar level usually disappears after giving birth. Similarly, if you gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes may be higher, as well. - Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition marked by irregular menstrual cycles, excessive hair growth, and obesity. PCOS is another risk factor for diabetes. - Darkened skin patches
Darkened skin in the armpits and neck is also frequently associated with insulin resistance.
What is the link between type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease?
Diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as heart problems, by two to four times. In fact, two-thirds of type 2 diabetes deaths are due to CVD complications.
Diabetes and heart disease are linked because the former is classified as a vascular disease. This means that the condition has an impact on your blood vessels. Ideally, the sugar in your blood is stored in your liver until your body requires it as an energy source. With diabetes, sugar accumulates in the blood vessels, resulting in blockage.
Blockage in the blood vessels causes them to narrow and stiffen, so they become less efficient in supplying blood to your vital organs, like your heart.
While diabetes reduces a person’s life expectancy by a minimum of six years, someone with both diabetes and a history of heart disease lowers their lifespan by up to 12 years.
Preventative Measures
Fortunately, healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent type 2 diabetes, even if you have biological relatives who have the disease. If you have prediabetes, lifestyle changes can delay or stop the progression to diabetes.
These healthy practices are crucial in type 2 diabetes prevention.
Consuming nutritious foods. Choose low-fat and low-calorie foods but go for high-fiber ones, such as fruits, vegetables, magnesium amazon and whole grains.
Being active. Aim for 150 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking, biking, running, or swimming. Long periods of sitting are not advisable, too. Form the habit of getting up every hour or half an hour and moving around for a few minutes.
Weight management. Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight can postpone the progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.
Wrapping Up
Type 2 diabetes is a preventable lifestyle disease. Even though you may have a genetic predisposition, you have a better chance of preventing or, at the very least, delaying the onset of this type of diabetes if you take adequate preventive measures and maintain healthy habits that will help you control your blood sugar levels. Ultimately, you can reduce your susceptibility to heart disease, improving your overall health and well-being.