What Causes Diabetes

No Sidewalks, for starters...

What Causes Diabetes Risk

What causes diabetes? Amy Auchincloss, Drexel University has some interesting ideas about the origins of diabetes, or at least what lifestyle conditions promote diabetes onset.

Your neighbourhood Environment

According to Auchincloss, if your neighbourhood has sidewalks, parks and public transportation - and if you have affordable access to fresh fruits and veggies you're 38% less likely to develop diabetes than people who live in "un-walkable" environs.

The benefits of regular physical activity are clear here, although that's not the whole story.

Diet and Exercise

As usual, diet and exercise go together.

Referring to the 23.6 million people in the United States who have Type 2 diabetes, Amy Auchincloss of Drexel University said, "Altering our environments so that healthier behaviours and lifestyles can be easily chosen may be one of the key steps in arresting and reversing these epidemics,"

Auchincloss studied over 2000 adults age 45 to 84 and evaluated their neighborhoods and diet.

For masters level athletes and exercises the good news is that the benefits of even modest exercise are pronounced - and these benefits can be augmented by healthy diet plans.

Neighborhoods are defined by the area you could cover in a 20 minute walk. This means every one of us can benefit from modest exercise.

Hey, I'm not against extreme effort! Nothing wrong with a little marathon here and there! Maybe a little cross country running on the weekend...

There are huge health benefits to being active, and staying active.

Diabetes Symptoms

Diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, is a modern epidemic. Over 25 million people in North America have diabetes.

There are three key types of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes - usually diagnosed in childhood. The body does not make sufficient insulin, and daily injections of insulin or other therapies are necessary.

Type 2 Diabetes - usually occurs in adults and accounts for about 90% of all diabetes cases. The pancreas fails to make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal. The body often does not use the insulin efficiently. Symptoms of adult diabetes and Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common with an aging population.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with the failure to exercise and obesity.

Gestational Diabetes - a high blood glucose associated with pregnancy.

The most common symptoms of adult diabetes: