Causes of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Development

Type 2 diabetes usually develops in people over 40 years of age. Although a clear genetic defect causing this disease has not yet been identified, a hereditary predisposition to it is obvious.

The main risk factor is excess weight. In obese people, there is often a “misrecognition” of insulin by insulin-dependent cells due to excess fat. Losing weight leads to normalization of this process and lowering blood sugar. Therefore, the main method of treating type 2 diabetes is losing excess weight.

However, the speed of metabolic processes and the predisposition to obesity largely depend on hormonal levels, in particular, the activity of the thyroid gland. People with a slow metabolism find it more difficult to lose weight.

Type 2 diabetes is sometimes diagnosed in people of normal weight. In such cases, the cause may be reduced production of insulin by the pancreas or impaired utilization of insulin due to hypoxia in cardiovascular diseases.

Thus, the main reasons for the development of type 2 diabetes are genetic predisposition, excess weight, age over 40 years, and diseases of the cardiovascular system. But sometimes diabetes occurs without obvious reasons. In any case, timely consultation with a doctor and adequate treatment allow you to keep the disease under control.