The other day someone said something that got me to thinking about where Diabetes comes from; what causes Type 2 Diabetes? It wasn’t found under some cabbage leaf, right? Well, at least I don’t think it was.
First, the question: What causes Diabetes? Seems simple enough, right? And, since the disease has been known to exist for 3,564 years you would think some progress toward what causes the disease should have been made.
Well, not so much. When you search on “What causes Diabetes” you get a lot of results. Lot’s of them.
I could go on and on, but the basic answer is that after over 3,500 years we don’t really know the why behind Type 2 Diabetes; we cannot answer the basic question, “What causes Diabetes.” Can you believe that? I really find that unacceptable.
Do you know what you get when you search for the reason Diabetes exists? A description of the disease. Hey, we know what Diabetes is! We live with it. We have declared War on it and are fighting for control.
But, ask the question what causes Diabetes, and you will get something like, “Well, we aren’t really sure…being overwright and life style are risk factors” followed by a description of the disease. Aren’t you the tiniest bit amazed the question has not been answered?
Risk Factors Are Known
Yes, it’s known that heredity (your genes) play a part in getting the disease, but it’s just a part. And, then there is life-style – it can influence it, but that’s about all. Influence. So, does that mean slim or normal weight (BMI of less than 25) people get Diabetes? Yes. Does it mean every obese (BMI over 30) will get Diabetes? No.
The fact is that if you line up ten folks who are overweight or obese, not all of them will have or get Diabetes. And, that’s just a fact. Likewise if you line up ten folks who have a normal weight (BMI less than 25) and are active, will all of them not have or get Diabetes? No – some of them will get Diabetes. The fact is you can’t tell by looking at someone’s weight to determine if they will get, or have, Diabetes.
Again, weight and life-style are risk factors. I would be the first to tell you that I think it was my weight and life style that strongly contributed to getting Diabetes. Why? Well, I lose 70 pounds and begin to exercise a bit and my Diabetes is under control. Seems like common sense to me.
There’s Dough (Money) in Diabetes
“Approximately 165 million prescriptions for antidiabetes medications were filled in 2010, a 3.8% rise over the previous year. Human insulins and synthetic analogues, including Lantus SoloSTAR (insulin glarine [rDNA origin]), combined for 64% of growth in the class.” Pharmacy Times The price tag? $25,000,000,000! What would happen if just a small percentage went into looking for the real cause and finding a cure? Think it could be found?
No wonder we know far more about how Diabetes works, rather than what causes the disease.
Folks, that has to change. Research has to go into finding why Diabetes happens. It’s got to go in until they find out why some folks get it and some don’t. Once the why, or the real cause, of the disease is found, then a cure can be developed.
Until then what can you do? Well, you give yourself the best chance at not getting Diabetes if you eat in a healthy manner, watch portion sizes and do not over-eat; and, you add a bit of exercise and activity to your life. Wow, that’s the same thing I do to control the disease.
You can fight and win your War On Diabetes. Whether you are fighting to Prevent, Delay or Control Diabetes, you can through a few life-style changes decrease your chances of ever getting the disease. You have to fight…please. You can. I believe in you!
By the way, you can see the Top Selling Drugs of 2013 here, it’s an interesting list.
As always, thank you for reading and sharing.