Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, and unlike type 1 diabetes, it usually occurs in people over the age of 40, especially those who are overweight. Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, which means that the hormone insulin is being released, but the body doesn’t respond to it appropriately. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that is caused by high blood sugar levels. The body can keep up for a period of time by producing more insulin, but over time the insulin receptor sites burn out, eventually affecting nearly every system in the body - impacting your energy, digestion, weight, sleep, vision and more. There are many underlying causes of type 2 diabetes usually developing due to a combination of factors, including:
- Poor diet
- Overweight
- High levels of inflammation
- High amounts of stress
- A family history of diabetes (especially a parent or sibling)
- High blood pressure or a history of heart disease
- Hormonal condition (like hyperthyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome or Cushing’s syndrome)
- Certain medications (like those that disrupt insulin production)