Background

• Diabetes is a condition that arises when the body fails to produce sufficient insulin or fails to use insulin correctly. Insulin is a hormone used by the body for the conversion of food, principally sugar, into energy. According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8 percent of the population, have diabetes. (See References 1 below.) The organization also reports that about 57 million Americans are prediabetic, meaning their blood sugar levels are higher than is considered to be normal. The vast majority of diabetes diagnoses are for type 2.
  
  

Type 2 Diabetes

• In type 2 diabetes, the primary problem or cause is insulin resistance. In effect, the body stops responding to the messages that insulin tries to send cells, tissues and organs. When insulin works properly, it helps sugars to move from the bloodstream into the cells. These sugars are the basic fuel that cells use to function. When insulin resistance occurs, the sugars build up in the bloodstream, which can have serious health consequences. Diabetes can contribute to development of heart and kidney disease. It can also damage vision and cause neuropathy (nerve damage). The larger question that concerns diabetics and physicians is what underlying cause sets the diabetic process in motion?
  
  

• As of 2009, the exact nature of the underlying cause for type 2 diabetes remains unknown. Researchers have, however, developed an understanding of the risk factors involved. Obesity is a major factor in the development of the disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. Fatty tissue interferes with insulin function, raising the risk of insulin resistance. There also appears to be a genetic link for diabetes at both family and racial background levels. Those with a family history of type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop the condition. There also appears to be an increased risk among African-Americans, Native-Americans, Asian-Americans and Hispanics. Inactivity is considered a risk, too, because being physically active helps you maintain healthy weight and increases insulin sensitivity. Historically, aging was considered to be a risk factor, as the occurrence of type 2 diabetes increased in among middle-aged people and older. In recent years, the growing incidence of type 2 among the young has thrown that into question. Prediabetes is also a risk factor, as it frequently develops into a full case of type 2 diabetes.