What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body cannot produce enough insulin or when the insulin your body makes doesn’t work properly. Insulin is essential for helping glucose from food and drink enter your cells to provide energy. Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the blood, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
The main causes of type 2 diabetes include:
Living with overweight or obesity
A high body weight or excess fat around the abdomen can cause insulin resistance, making it harder for your body to manage blood sugar levels.
Unhealthy waist size
For men, a waist measurement over 94 cm (37 inches) and for women, over 80 cm (31.5 inches), increases the risk of developing insulin resistance.
Excess fat around vital organs
Even people with a healthy weight can develop type 2 diabetes if they have excess fat stored in the liver and pancreas.
Lack of physical activity –
Being inactive for long periods increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes in Kenya
Certain risk factors make some people more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. These include:
Age
The risk increases as you get older.
Ethnicity
People of African, Indian, and South Asian descent in Kenya have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and this risk often begins at a younger age.
Family History
If someone in your family has type 2 diabetes, you are two to six times more likely to develop it.
High Blood Pressure
People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
What Causes Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Young People?
While type 2 diabetes is more common in adults, it’s becoming increasingly diagnosed in children and young people in Kenya, particularly those who are living with overweight or obesity. Ethnicity and family history also play a major role in the development of type 2 diabetes in children.
Does Diet Cause Type 2 Diabetes?
Eating certain foods does not directly cause type 2 diabetes, but an unhealthy diet can increase the risk. Foods and drinks that contribute to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes include:
Refined carbohydrates
such as white bread, white rice, and sugary cereals
Red and processed meats
like sausages, ham, and bacon
High salt intake
particularly from processed foods, which increases blood pressure
Including healthier options like fruits, vegetables, unsweetened yogurt, and oily fish in your diet can help lower your risk.
Is Type 2 Diabetes Genetic?
Type 2 diabetes can run in families, increasing your risk. If a close blood relative has type 2 diabetes, such as a parent or sibling, your chances of developing the condition are higher. Type 2 diabetes has been linked to hundreds of genes, and ongoing research continues to identify more genetic factors.