Lifestyle causes of type 2 diabetes

Last updated

A number of lifestyle factors are known to be important to the development of type 2 diabetes including: obesity, physical activity, diet, stress, and urbanization. [1] Excess body fat underlies 64% of cases of diabetes in men and 77% of cases in women. [2] A number of dietary factors such as sugar sweetened drinks [3] [4] and the type of fat in the diet appear to play a role. [5] [6]

Contents

In one study, those who had high levels of physical activity, a healthy diet, did not smoke, and consumed alcohol in moderation had an 82% lower rate of diabetes. When a normal weight was included, the rate was 89% lower. In this study, a healthy diet was defined as one high in fiber, with a high polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio, lower trans fats consumption, and a lower mean glycemic index. [7]

Dietary

The composition of dietary fat intake is linked to diabetes risk; decreasing consumption of saturated fats and trans fatty acids while replacing them with unsaturated fats may decrease the risk. [5] [8] Sugar sweetened drinks appear to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes both through their role in obesity and potentially through a direct effect. [3] [4] A higher proportion of ultra-processed food in the diet was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes in a large ten-year study published in 2019. [9]

Obesity

Obesity has been found to contribute to approximately 55% of cases of type 2 diabetes; [10] chronic obesity leads to increased insulin resistance that can develop into type 2 diabetes, [11] most likely because adipose tissue (especially that in the abdomen around internal organs) is a source of several chemical signals, hormones and cytokines, to other tissues. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα may activate the NF-κB pathway which has been linked to the development of insulin resistance. [12] Gene expression promoted by a diet of fat and glucose, as well as high levels of inflammation related cytokines found in the obese, can result in cells that "produce fewer and smaller mitochondria than is normal," and are thus prone to insulin resistance. [13] [ unreliable medical source? ] Fat tissue has also been shown to be involved in managing much of the body's response to insulin and control of uptake of sugar. [14] It secretes RBP4 which increases insulin resistance by blocking the action of insulin in muscle and liver. [15] [16] Fat cells also secrete adiponectin which acts in an opposite way to RBP4 by improving the action of insulin, however, engorged fat cells secrete it in lower amount than normal fat cells. [14] The obese therefore may have higher level of RBP4 but lower level of adiponectin, both of which increase the risk of developing diabetes. [16] [17]

However, different fat tissues behave differently. Visceral fat, which is found around organs such as the intestines and liver, releases signalling molecules directly into blood heading into the liver where glucose is absorbed and processed, while subcutaneous fat under the skin is much less metabolically active. [14] The visceral fat is located in the abdomen in the waist region, large waist circumference and high waist-to-hip ratio are therefore often used as indications of an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. [18] [19]

The increased rate of childhood obesity between the 1960s and 2000s is believed to have led to the increase in type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. [20]

Sleep

Studies [21] [22] have shown that a reduction in sleep is associated with a significant increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes. This could account for the increased incidence of diabetes in developed countries in the last decades, since "the causes of this pandemic are not fully explained by changes in traditional lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity", [21] and "one behavior that seems to have developed during the past few decades and has become highly prevalent, particularly amongst Americans, is sleep curtailment". [21]

In addition, it has been shown that certain minority populations, such as Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders [23] or American Indians/Alaska Natives, [24] [25] report higher rates of suboptimal sleep, potentially leading to higher rates of type 2 diabetes.

Prenatal environment

Research also suggests intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or prenatal undernutrition (macro- and micronutrient) as another probable factor. [26] Studies of those who were small or disproportionately thin or short at birth, or suffered prenatal exposure during period of famine such as the Dutch Hunger Winter (1944–1945) during World War II, have shown that they are prone to higher rates of diabetes. [27]

Other

Environmental toxins may contribute to recent increases in the rate of type 2 diabetes. A weak positive correlation has been found between the concentration in the urine of bisphenol A, a constituent of some plastics, and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. [28]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metabolic syndrome</span> Medical condition

Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of at least three of the following five medical conditions: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high serum triglycerides, and low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

Insulin resistance (IR) is a pathological condition in which cells in insulin-sensitive tissues in the body fail to respond normally to the hormone insulin or downregulate insulin receptors in response to hyperinsulinemia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdominal obesity</span> Excess fat around the stomach and abdomen

Abdominal obesity, also known as central obesity and truncal obesity, is the human condition of an excessive concentration of visceral fat around the stomach and abdomen to such an extent that it is likely to harm its bearer's health. Abdominal obesity has been strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other metabolic and vascular diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obesity</span> Medical condition in which excess body fat harms health

Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it can potentially have negative effects on health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's weight divided by the square of the person's height—is over 30 kg/m2; the range 25–30 kg/m2 is defined as overweight. Some East Asian countries use lower values to calculate obesity. Obesity is a major cause of disability and is correlated with various diseases and conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type 2 diabetes</span> Form of diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes (T2D), formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, is a form of diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. Common symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue and unexplained weight loss. Other symptoms include increased hunger, having a sensation of pins and needles, and sores (wounds) that heal slowly. Symptoms often develop slowly. Long-term complications from high blood sugar include heart disease, stroke, diabetic retinopathy, which can result in blindness, kidney failure, and poor blood flow in the lower-limbs, which may lead to amputations. The sudden onset of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state may occur; however, ketoacidosis is uncommon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adipose tissue</span> Loose connective tissue composed mostly by adipocytes

Adipose tissue is a loose connective tissue composed mostly of adipocytes. It also contains the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of cells including preadipocytes, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells and a variety of immune cells such as adipose tissue macrophages. Its main role is to store energy in the form of lipids, although it also cushions and insulates the body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Low-carbohydrate diet</span> Diets restricting carbohydrate consumption

Low-carbohydrate diets restrict carbohydrate consumption relative to the average diet. Foods high in carbohydrates are limited, and replaced with foods containing a higher percentage of fat and protein, as well as low carbohydrate foods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adiponectin</span> Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

Adiponectin is a protein hormone and adipokine, which is involved in regulating glucose levels and fatty acid breakdown. In humans, it is encoded by the ADIPOQ gene and is produced primarily in adipose tissue, but also in muscle and even in the brain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-protein diet</span> A diet high in protein

A high-protein diet is a diet in which 20% or more of the total daily calories come from protein. Many high protein diets are high in saturated fat and restrict intake of carbohydrates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyperinsulinemia</span> Abnormal increase in insulin in the bloodstream relative to glucose

Hyperinsulinemia is a condition in which there are excess levels of insulin circulating in the blood relative to the level of glucose. While it is often mistaken for diabetes or hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinemia can result from a variety of metabolic diseases and conditions, as well as non-nutritive sugars in the diet. While hyperinsulinemia is often seen in people with early stage type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is not the cause of the condition and is only one symptom of the disease. Type 1 diabetes only occurs when pancreatic beta-cell function is impaired. Hyperinsulinemia can be seen in a variety of conditions including diabetes mellitus type 2, in neonates and in drug-induced hyperinsulinemia. It can also occur in congenital hyperinsulinism, including nesidioblastosis.

A diabetic diet is a diet that is used by people with diabetes mellitus or high blood sugar to minimize symptoms and dangerous complications of long-term elevations in blood sugar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarcopenic obesity</span> Medical condition: obesity and loss of muscle

Sarcopenic obesity is a combination of two disease states, sarcopenia and obesity. Sarcopenia is the muscle mass/strength/physical function loss associated with increased age, and obesity is based off a weight to height ratio or body mass index (BMI) that is characterized by high body fat or being overweight.

Intermittent fasting is any of various meal timing schedules that cycle between voluntary fasting and non-fasting over a given period. Methods of intermittent fasting include alternate-day fasting, periodic fasting, such as the 5:2 diet, and daily time-restricted eating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diet and obesity</span> Effect of diet on obesity


Diet plays an important role in the genesis of obesity. Personal choices, food advertising, social customs and cultural influences, as well as food availability and pricing all play a role in determining what and how much an individual eats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weight management</span> Techniques for maintaining body weight

Weight management refers to behaviors, techniques, and physiological processes that contribute to a person's ability to attain and maintain a healthy weight. Most weight management techniques encompass long-term lifestyle strategies that promote healthy eating and daily physical activity. Moreover, weight management involves developing meaningful ways to track weight over time and to identify the ideal body weights for different individuals.

Sleep is important in regulating metabolism. Mammalian sleep can be sub-divided into two distinct phases - REM and non-REM (NREM) sleep. In humans and cats, NREM sleep has four stages, where the third and fourth stages are considered slow-wave sleep (SWS). SWS is considered deep sleep, when metabolism is least active.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diabetes</span> Group of endocrine diseases characterized by high blood sugar levels

Diabetes mellitus, often known simply as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or the cells of the body becoming unresponsive to the hormone's effects. Classic symptoms include thirst, polyuria, weight loss, and blurred vision. If left untreated, the disease can lead to various health complications, including disorders of the cardiovascular system, eye, kidney, and nerves. Diabetes accounts for approximately 4.2 million deaths every year, with an estimated 1.5 million caused by either untreated or poorly treated diabetes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Hu</span> Nutrition researcher

Frank B. Hu is a Chinese American nutrition and diabetes researcher. He is Chair of the Department of Nutrition and the Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School.

Sleep and weight is the association between the amount of sleep an individual obtains and the weight of that individual.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christos Socrates Mantzoros</span> Greek American physician and scientist

Christos Socrates Mantzoros is a Greek-born American physician-scientist, practicing internist-endocrinologist, teacher and researcher. He is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an adjunct professor at Boston University School of Medicine. He currently serves as the chief of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the VA Boston Healthcare System, where he created de novo a leading academic division true to its tripartite mission and as the founding director of human nutrition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School. Finally, he holds the editor-in-chief position of the journal Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental.

References

  1. Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, Kronenberg HM, eds. (2011). Williams textbook of endocrinology (12th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders. pp. 1371–1435. ISBN   978-1-4377-0324-5.
  2. Visscher TL, Snijder MB, Seidell JC (2009). "Epidemiology: Definition and Classification of Obesity". In Kopelman PG, Caterson ID, Dietz WH (eds.). Clinical Obesity in Adults and Children (3rd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. p.  7. ISBN   978-1-4443-0763-4.
  3. 1 2 Malik VS, Popkin BM, Bray GA, Després JP, Hu FB (23 March 2010). "Sugar-sweetened beverages, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease risk". Circulation. 121 (11): 1356–1364. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.876185. PMC   2862465 . PMID   20308626.
  4. 1 2 Malik VS, Popkin BM, Bray GA, Després JP, Willett WC, Hu FB (November 2010). "Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis". Diabetes Care. 33 (11): 2477–2483. doi:10.2337/dc10-1079. PMC   2963518 . PMID   20693348.
  5. 1 2 Risérus U, Willett WC, Hu FB (January 2009). "Dietary fats and prevention of type 2 diabetes". Progress in Lipid Research. 48 (1): 44–51. doi:10.1016/j.plipres.2008.10.002. PMC   2654180 . PMID   19032965.
  6. Gaeini, Zahra; Bahadoran, Zahra; Mirmiran, Parvin (November 2022). "Saturated Fatty Acid Intake and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: An Updated Systematic Review and Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies". Advances in Nutrition . 13 (6): 2125–2135. doi:10.1093/advances/nmac071. PMC   9776642 . PMID   36056919. S2CID   252046318.
  7. Mozaffarian D, Kamineni A, Carnethon M, Djoussé L, Mukamal KJ, Siscovic D (April 2009). "Lifestyle Risk Factors and New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study". Archives of Internal Medicine. 169 (8): 798–807. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.21. PMC   2828342 . PMID   19398692.
  8. Salmerón J, Hu FB, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, Rimm EB, Willett WC (June 2001). "Dietary fat intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in women". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 73 (6): 1019–1026. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/73.6.1019 . PMID   11382654.
  9. "Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Participants of the NutriNet-Santé Prospective Cohort". JAMA Internal Medicine. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  10. Eberhart MS, Ogden C, Engelgau M, Cadwell B, Hedley AA, Saydah SH (19 November 2004). "Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes – United States, 1988–1994 and 1999–2002". Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 53 (45): 1066–1068. PMID   15549021 . Retrieved 19 July 2008.
  11. Brooks NA (Mar 2009). "Type 2 Diabetes: Lifestyle Changes and Drug Treatment". AMA Journal of Ethics. 11 (3): 237–241. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2009.11.3.cprl1-0903 . PMID   23194906 . Retrieved 5 Oct 2020.
  12. Shoelson SE, Lee J, Goldfine AB (July 2006). "Inflammation and insulin resistance". Journal of Clinical Investigation. 116 (7): 1793–1801. doi:10.1172/JCI29069. PMC   1483173 . PMID   16823477.
  13. "The origin of diabetes: Don't blame your genes". Economist. 3 September 2009.
  14. 1 2 3 Powell K (31 May 2007). "The Two Faces of Fat". Nature. 447 (7144): 525–527. Bibcode:2007Natur.447..525P. doi: 10.1038/447525a . PMID   17538594. S2CID   28974642.
  15. Yang Q, Graham TE, Mody N, Preitner F, Peroni OD, Zabolotny JM, Kotani K, Quadro L, Kahn BB (21 July 2005). "Serum retinol binding protein 4 contributes to insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes". Nature. 436 (7049): 356–362. Bibcode:2005Natur.436..356Y. doi:10.1038/nature03711. PMID   16034410.
  16. 1 2 Graham TE, Yang Q, Bluher M, Hammarstedt A, Ciaraldi TP, Henry RR, Wason CJ, Oberbach A, Jansson PA, Smith U, Kahn BB (15 June 2006). "Retinol-binding protein 4 and insulin resistance in lean, obese, and diabetic subjects". New England Journal of Medicine. 354 (24): 2552–2563. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa054862 . PMID   16775236.
  17. Yang WS, Lee WJ, Funahashi T, Tanaka S, Matsuzawa Y, Chao CL, Chen CL, Tai TY, Chuang LM (August 2001). "Weight reduction increases plasma levels of an adipose-derived anti-inflammatory protein, adiponectin". Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism . 86 (8): 3815–3819. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.8.7741 . PMID   11502817.
  18. Qiao Q, Nyamdorj R (January 2010). "Is the association of type II diabetes with waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio stronger than that with body mass index?". European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 64 (1): 30–34. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2009.93. PMID   19724291.
  19. Schmidt MI, Duncan BB, Canani LH, Karohl C, Chambless L (July 1992). "Association of waist-hip ratio with diabetes mellitus. Strength and possible modifiers". Diabetes Care. 15 (7): 912–914. doi:10.2337/diacare.15.7.912. PMID   1516514. S2CID   44493450.
  20. Rosenbloom A, Silverstein JH (2003). Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents: A Clinician's Guide to Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment . American Diabetes Association. p.  1. ISBN   978-1-58040-155-5.
  21. 1 2 3 Knutson KL, Spiegel K, Penev P, Van Cauter E (June 2007). "The Metabolic Consequences of Sleep Deprivation". Sleep Medicine Reviews. 11 (3): 163–178. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2007.01.002. PMC   1991337 . PMID   17442599.
  22. Spiegel K, Leproult R, Van Cauter E (23 October 1999). "Impact of sleep debt on metabolic and endocrine function". The Lancet. 354 (9188): 1435–1439. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(99)01376-8. PMID   10543671. S2CID   3854642.
  23. Young MC (2018). "Neighborhood social cohesion and sleep outcomes in the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey". Sleep. 41 (9). doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsy097 . PMID   29771373.
  24. Nuyujukian DS (2016). "Sleep Duration and Diabetes Risk in American Indian and Alaska Native Participants of a Lifestyle Intervention Project". Sleep. 39 (11): 1919–1926. doi:10.5665/sleep.6216. PMC   5070746 . PMID   27450685.
  25. Nuyujukian DS, Anton-Culver H, Manson SM, Jiang L (2019). "Associations of sleep duration with cardiometabolic outcomes in American Indians and Alaska Natives and other race/ethnicities: results from the BRFSS". Sleep Health. 5 (4): 344–351. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2019.02.003. PMC   6935393 . PMID   30987947.
  26. Christian P, Stewart CP (March 2010). "Maternal Micronutrient Deficiency, Fetal Development, and the Risk of Chronic Disease". The Journal of Nutrition. 140 (3): 437–445. doi: 10.3945/jn.109.116327 . PMID   20071652.
  27. Godfrey KM, Barker DJ (May 2000). "Fetal nutrition and adult disease". American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 71 (5 Suppl): 1344S–1352S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/71.5.1344s . PMID   10799412.
  28. Lang IA, Galloway TS, Scarlett A, Henley WE, Depledge M, Wallace RB, Melzer D (17 September 2008). "Association of urinary bisphenol A concentration with medical disorders and laboratory abnormalities in adults". JAMA. 300 (11): 1303–1310. doi: 10.1001/jama.300.11.1303 . hdl: 10871/37692 . PMID   18799442.