Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas that allows glucose (sugar) to leave the bloodstream and enter the cells to be used as fuel.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin, or the cells of the body become resistant to insulin.
It's not known for certain why some people develop type 2 diabetes and some do not. There are several factors, however, that can increase a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Primary Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
Being obese or overweight puts you at significant risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Four out of five people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.
"One of the links with obesity is that fat induces a mild, low-grade inflammation throughout the body that contributes to heart disease and diabetes," says Vivian Fonseca, MD, professor of medicine and pharmacology and chief of endocrinology at Tulane University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.
Excess fat, especially abdominal fat, also changes the way that your body responds to insulin, leading to a condition called insulin resistance. With this condition, your cells cannot use insulin to process blood sugar out of the blood, resulting in high blood sugar levels.
While not everyone with insulin resistance develops diabetes, people with insulin resistance are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Poor Eating Habits
Eating too much of the wrong kinds of foods can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that eating a diet of calorie-dense, refined foods and beverages, such as sodas or fruit juices, and too little raw fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can significantly increase your risk of type 2 diabetes.