Diabetes - The Lifestyle Disease

Diabetes Mellitus is a lifestyle disease that has been on the rise in recent times. As of this writing, there are about 280 million diabetics globally, which is approximately 6% of the world's population right now. There are 2 main types of diabetes - Type I and II. Of the 2 types, Type II is more common among those inflicted with diabetes. This articles will focus on Type II diabetes, and by the time you finish the article, you will understand what Type II diabetes is and how you can lower the risk getting it.

In the body of a normal healthy person, the insulin secreted from the pancreas helps to regulate the level of blood glucose in the body by driving glucose into the cells inside our bodies. For some group of people who are predisposed to Type II diabetes, their cells do not respond to insulin, resulting in the pancreas producing even more insulin in response. Over time, their pancreas becomes overworked and stop producing insulin altogether, leaving the blood glucose unregulated in the body and leading to the onset of Type II Diabetes.

There are many downstream effects and complications as a result of having a high blood glucose level. The main effect is the damage to the linings of both the small and large blood vessels. Damage to the small blood vessels, also known as microangiopathy can result in poor blood circulation in our bodies, especially to the skin, eyes and kidney. Poor blood circulation can cause our wounds to take a much longer time to heal and infections to set more easily. In the case of the eyes, damage to the retina may occur, which can lead to blindness in the more serious cases. Damage to the large blood vessels or macroangiopathy, can lead to strokes and heart attacks, which can be fatal.

A person inflicted with Type II Diabetes is not predisposed to the disease because of genes, but is inflicted due to choice of lifestyle. In fact, some studies have shown that when obese people have more resistance to insulin in body, and are thus more vulnerable to Type II Diabetes.

Therefore, to prevent ourselves from being victims of this disease, we need to watch our diet and develop a healthy exercise regimen, and this is more true in this day and age as our lifestyle is becoming more and more sedentary. Prevention is better than cure. We owe it to ourselves to take these necessary steps to prevent getting Type II diabetes.

Mark Greenfield is passionate about learning and sharing new-found knowledge through his writings here on EzineArticles.

He runs Imopedia, a web site that aims to explain in plain and simple English what the many Internet Marketing terms mean. Don't know what above the fold means? Head over to Imopedia to find out more.