Adult Diabetes: Why Do I Have Diabetes?
When there is not enough
insulin to keep your blood glucose levels normal, you have diabetes.
Your pancreas manufactures
insulin in the body. If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, your pancreas
does not make any insulin. A type 2 diagnosis means that your pancreas may not
make enough insulin, or that your body does not respond well to insulin that is
made. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to the
growing number of older Americans, increasing obesity, and failure to exercise.
Being overweight increases
your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you have a history of
diabetes in your family, eating healthy and exercising regularly are
recommended to manage your weight.
There are many risk
factors for diabetes, including:
- Close relative with
diabetes
- Obesity
- Age greater than 45
years
- Some ethnic groups
(particularly African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific
Islanders, and Hispanic Americans)
- Gestational diabetes or
delivering a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- High blood pressure
- High blood levels of
triglycerides (a type of fat molecule)
- High blood cholesterol
level
- Not getting enough
exercise
