American Diabetes Month: Type 2 Diabetes
By Rep. Lynn Westmoreland
November 16, 2012
As the most common form of diabetes, Type 2 is a disease many people don’t even know they have. It results from either you body isn’t producing enough insulin or your cells are ignoring the insulin. Millions have been diagnosed, but even more are at risk. Around 3,600 Americans under 20 are diagnosed with Type 2 annually.
The cause of diabetes can be traced back to both genetics and environment. African Americans, Latinos, Native American, Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians are genetically more prone to the disease. Type 2 can easily be passed down from parent to child but obesity is also a leading cause. Since it can be difficult to tell whether the cause of Type 2 diabetes is genetic or environmental, staying active and healthy is beneficial for not only yourself but for your children. Living a healthy lifestyle at a healthy weight can prolong or prevent Type 2.
Next week I will discuss diabetes prevention and awareness. As American Diabetes Month continues, please take a moment to share what A Day in the Life of Diabetes means to you.