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

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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

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.

Type II Diabetes | Risk Factors | Alcohol Use

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

Physical activity helps prevent type II diabetes mainly by improving insulin sensitivity. It also reduces stress and improves mood, which can lower unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, excess alcohol use, and poor eating. Sufficient activity (≥ 150 min of moderate activity per week for adults, ≥ 60 min daily for adolescents) benefits physical and mental health in many other ways, and some activity is always better than none (Get Active! | CDC). This Healthcare Triage video summarizes peer-reviewed evidence that exercise improves overall health, helping prevent and manage type II diabetes: https://youtu.be/SFBBjynBpSw

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