People from Black African, African Caribbean and South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) backgrounds are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes from a younger age.
Research has shown that there are several risk factors linked to this, some that you can manage and others that you can’t.
Type 2 diabetes is serious and can go undetected for up to 10 years. It is not inevitable and in many cases can be prevented or delayed. If you do nothing, you could end up with some serious complications.
Family history, and social and environmental factors play a part. But it is still not clear why people from certain ethnic backgrounds have an increased risk. People from South Asian backgrounds for example are more likely to experience insulin resistance at a younger age. This could be linked to how fat is stored in the body and particularly around the middle. This is known as visceral fat and it can build up around important organs like the liver and pancreas. Having too much of this type of fat is just one of the factors that can affect your health and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance is when insulin can’t work properly leading to an increased chance of having high blood sugar levels. If left untreated over time, high blood sugar levels can lead to lots of health complications. The good news is that by getting into some healthier habits, such as becoming more active and eating healthy foods, you can reduce your risk.
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