2 Factors for Type 2 Diabetes

BY SRIJA SOMAKA – Our community has been hit with an pandemic: just not one you would expect. The word pandemic brings to mind an uncontrolled outbreak of a viral pathogen, something scientists at the CDC would be poring over microscopes trying to find a cure for. This, however, is an epidemic of an uncommon nature: Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes has been nicknamed the “first-world disease” as it is often correlated to obesity and excessive food intake. Recent studies have found, however, that this assumption may not be the case anymore.

Type 2 Diabetes – not to be confused with Type 1 diabetes where the body simply doesn’t create insulin – is brought on by both environmental and genetic factors, with past studies placing an emphasis on the former. With this T2D, the body doesn’t respond to the insulin being produced, a phenomenon which usually occurs from overdoses of the trigger, causing  insensitivity and eventually resistance. This improper response to insulin grows over time and the lack of regulation increases blood sugar to dangerous levels. 

This disease is growing rapidly in our population and has quickly reached epidemic status. The number of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes has increased by 314 million people in the last thirty years while worldwide incidences have risen from 4.7% to 8.5%. This increase is even sharper in lower and middle class families. 

With type 2 diabetes holding a strong correlation with obesity, one would assume that lower and middle class families are safe from this rich man’s disease. With the converse proving to be true, we must look into what factors could be skewing the expected results. The increase in incidences can be explained by the growing presence of cheap and easily accessible fast food. High in sodium, fat, and calories, fast food induces an excess of insulin, which could lead to type 2 diabetes in the long run. Communities of low income families tend not to have access to supermarkets and high nutrition food. Moreover, physical activity and exercise aren’t promoted well to these communities, leading to sedentary lifestyles that can’t combat the poor food intake. 

While this analysis makes sense for the highly developed countries in the Americas and Europe, the explanation doesn’t quite explain the rising incidences of Type 2 diabetes in still developing regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Increase in incidence in even non-obese individuals spanning socioeconomic levels led to an investigation and research: could there be another stronger factor causing type 2 diabetes? The American Diabetes Association found that the pancreatic 𝛽-cell and its reaction to insulin could be contributing to Type 2 Diabetes. Defects and early loss of 𝛽-cells have been found to a play a role in the surfacing of type 2 diabetes, although we don’t know the extent to which it impacts the disease yet. Focusing on the narrow scope of environmental factors of T2D means that we have less knowledge and information on the genetic causes of this disease. This new evidence proves that T2D is truly an ontogenetic disease, brought on by maturation of genes and environment.

The effects of this growing disease are significant. The increased sugar levels and inability to regulate them can lead to kidney failure, nerve damage, and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. While it does not have a cure at the moment, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented. New developments on the genetic front are working to address the genetic factors associated with the genesis of the disease and work to both prevent and potentially reverse it. As far as what can be used to control Type 2 Diabetes, limited intake of processed and unhealthy foods, exercise, and communication with a doctor to learn if you’re at risk can help manage this growing disease.

Editor: Ishan Vaish

Photography Source: Bianca Patel