Excessive alcohol use increases the risk of developing type II diabetes by potentially causing chronic inflammation of the pancreas. For individuals who already have the condition, heavy drinking worsens symptoms, interferes with diabetes medications, and aggravates complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, and nerve damage. Additionally, alcohol prevents the liver from effectively regulating blood glucose levels because the liver prioritizes metabolizing and removing alcohol from the blood.

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According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health,
- Most type II diabetes cases are preventable.
- To prevent type II diabetes (or stop/slow its progression if you already have it), avoid tobacco smoking, limit/avoid alcohol drinking, avoid excess abdominal fat, be physically active, and have a balanced diet**

** This does NOT mean that people who eat unhealthy food are always culpable. Factors like socioeconomic status can play heavily into this (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4910945/).

Type II Diabetes | Prevention and Risk Factors

According to the CDC, tobacco smoking significantly increases the risk of developing type II diabetes, with smokers being 30-40% more likely to develop the condition than nonsmokers. For individuals who already have type II diabetes, smoking exacerbates the disease by making insulin dosing and blood sugar control more difficult. Furthermore, smoking directly elevates the risk of severe diabetes-related complications, including heart failure and kidney failure.

Type II Diabetes | Risk Factors | Tobacco Smoking

Type II Diabetes | Risk Factors | Alcohol Use

- Excess abdominal fat is the number one leading cause of type 2 diabetes (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).
- Losing about 10-15 pounds can halve your chances of getting type 2 diabetes (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).
- This 1.5-min video (published by Diabetes UK) shows how excess body fat causes type 2 diabetes: https://youtu.be/7lNQ6SupQhE

Type II Diabetes | Risk Factors | Excess Abdominal Fat

According to Mayo Clinic and the CDC,
- Unhealthy eating can cause excess body weight, which is the leading preventable cause of diabetes.
- Unhealthy items include processed foods, sugar-sweetened drinks, refined grains.
- Healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans lowers the risk.

This 3-min video illustrates the importance of diet in diabetes prevention: https://youtu.be/-VB-QWM2RaY

Type II Diabetes | Risk Factors | Poor Diet

According to Get Active! | CDC and Healthcare Triage,
- Physical activity reduces stress and improves mood, hence reducing unhealthy behaviors like smoking, excess alcohol use, and unhealthy eating. In terms of diabetes prevention, physical activity improves insulin sensitivity.
- Sufficient physical activity (≥ 150 min of moderate activity per week for adults, 60 min daily for adolescents) benefits physical and mental health in several other ways, too.​
- Some physical activity is better than none.

This video shows (using peer-reviewed evidence) that exercise improves overall health in several ways, hence helping prevent and manage type 2 diabetes: https://youtu.be/SFBBjynBpSw

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