Title: Healthy Outlook: Type II Diabetes is Becoming More Common - Contra Costa Health Services
Headings: Type II Diabetes is Becoming More Common
Type II Diabetes is Becoming More Common
Content: Because of increasing amounts of body fat, and depending on ones genetic makeup, the body may eventually become resistant to insulin. So, glucose becomes trapped in the blood, levels start to rise, and diabetes sets in. Lack of physical activity and overeating can cause extra fat storage and weight gain, which can overwork the pancreas and worsen insulin resistance. Family history, ethnic background, and getting older can worsen these problems. Since diabetes is increasing for all age groups, and our genes haven’t changed much in the last twenty years, it is the decreasing levels of activity and/or increasing body weight that have caused most of the increase in type II diabetes. Children now have hours of "screen time," including television, video games and computers, instead of playing outdoors. Schools have decreased physical education time. Younger adults spend many hours browsing the internet instead of being active. Many adults work longer hours instead of getting exercise, and often shove down fried or fast food to save time. When older adults get arthritis, many use electric scooters instead of canes or walkers.