What is the origin of type 2 diabetes?

14.11. is World Diabetes Day!

But where does type 2 diabetes actually originate?

Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in overweight people over the age of 40. However, due to the increase in childhood obesity, more and more young people are affected.

 

➤  The foundation stone is laid in childhood

 

Observations show that every 7th child in Germany is already overweight or obese. This worrying trend has far-reaching health consequences. According to a large-scale study in several European countries involving 2 to 9-year-olds, overweight children develop a high risk of metabolic disorders in the long term.

These include, for example

• High blood sugar levels and type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular diseases
• High blood pressure
• Poor blood and liver fat values

The study shows that obesity in children could actually be the starting point for the development of metabolic disorders.

After 6 years of observation, the following findings were made: Almost no child who was metabolically abnormal at the beginning of the observation series was considered physically healthy after the 6 years. Overweight children usually remained overweight and developed several metabolic disorders over time.

This makes it clear that it is extremely important to recognize and reduce obesity in children at an early stage and to promote a normal and healthy body weight. This is because developed metabolic disorders are hardly reversible.

 

➤ Every 7th child in Germany is overweight or obese!

 

What is the main trigger for obesity?

Whether in children or adults, the number one trigger for obesity is and remains sugar in combination with too little exercise.

But why do we consume so much sugar?

Sugar makes us happy. This is because sugar releases serotonin - the happiness and feel-good hormone - and acts like a drug on our brain. Children in particular are exposed to it from an early age, as most children's products contain large amounts of added sugar. 

Therefore, always pay close attention to the list of ingredients.

 

➤ We consume an average of 40 kg of pure sugar per capita every year!

 

 

High sugar consumption, high carbohydrate meals and little exercise are fatal for our health. This leads to overweight and obesity, which in turn increases the risk of type 2 diabetes!

 

Poor diet  ➤ Overweight ➤ Type 2 diabetes

 

Don't just accept it! Around half of those suffering from type 2 diabetes could overcome the disease with targeted measures.

Our ultimate guide to type 2 diabetes

1) No added sugar

Drastically reduce your sugar intake and look for natural alternatives. Stabilize your blood sugar with healthy fats, proteins, fibre and nutrients.

2) Intermittent fasting

Repeatedly abstaining from food improves insulin sensitivity, leads to weight loss and helps to lower blood sugar.

3) More movement

Almost half of all adults do not get enough exercise. A sedentary lifestyle leads to metabolic disorders. The solution? Exercise regularly!

4) Proven recipe

R-alpha lipoic acid has an optimal therapeutic effect in diabetes. Advantages: Insulin resistance is improved and the nerves are protected from free radicals.

 

Sources (in English):

Börnhorst, C., Russo, P., Veidebaum, T., Tornaritis, M., Molnar, D., Lissner, L. et al. (2019, October). Metabolic status in children and its transistions during childhood and adolescence - the IDEFICS/I.Family study. International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 48, Issue 3, doi: 10.1093/ije/dyz097

Ungethüm, K., Jolink, M., Hippich, M., Lachmann, L., Haupt, F., Winkler, C. et al. (2019, March). Physical activity is associated with lower insulin and C-peptide during glucose challenge in children and adolescents with family background of diabetes. Diabetic Medicine, 36(3):366-375, doi: 10.1111/dme.13819