Have you been diagnosed with diabetes? Or do you have fear that you may develop it? In both cases you may be in the search of the factors that cause diabetes. There was a time when nobody was aware about the basic reason that causes diabetes. However the years of researches have revealed the exact answer of “what cause diabetes” and the ways to prevent diabetes.

Genetic Disposition: In the previous days the leading cause of diabetes was thought to be the genetic disposition. The recent studies have revealed that no doubt the genetic disposition is the cause of diabetes but it is not the leading cause.

Before jumping on to the leading cause of diabetes; I would like to explain what genetic disposition is. It means that if a person in his blood line has diabetes; specifically in the first blood line then he is at higher risk of developing diabetes.

Obesity: Now the reader must be wondering what the leading cause is. The leading cause of diabetes is obesity. When a person becomes overweight his body becomes resistant to insulin. This holds particularly true if the Body Mass Index (BMI) is more than 30 %. If for some reason you are unable to calculate your BMI; then an easier way is to measure the waist. The waist of the males should not be bigger than 40 inches and in case of female it must not be bigger than 35 inches. If your waist is bigger than the given inches then you are at an increased risk of developing diabetes.

Unhealthy Eating Habits: No matter a person is overweight or underweight; poor eating habits lead to diabetes. The healthy diet means that it should be full of dietary fiber and proteins or otherwise you are at an increased risk of diabetes.

Sedentary Lifestyle: Inactive physical lifestyle also leads to diabetes. A person must exercise at least three times in one week for around 30 minutes. Any type of exercise can be chosen from brisk walk to aerobic dances or even weight training.

Infections: Research studies have revealed that certain infections also lead to diabetes. Age is also one of the causes; as a person gets older the chances of developing diabetes increases. Further hypertension also leads to diabetes.

Medicines: There are certain medicines that “help” the body in developing diabetes. Examples are Olanzapine, Clozapine, Ziprasidone, Quetiapine and Risperidone.

So it is important to get tested for diabetes if any of the above mentioned condition applies to you.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body cannot produce insulin, a substance that is created in the pancreas and helps the body to break down glucose. Those who have diabetes have an too much glucose in their bodies as they are not able to break it down, and it passes through the body without being used by the body as a source of energy. For those who have been diagnosed with diabetes, insulin or medications are often part of their treatments, but there are exercises that can help them as well.

People who are overweight, especially those who fall into the obese category, are more at risk of getting diabetes. Regular exercise can help them to live healthier lifestyles after they are diagnosed with the disease, allowing them to lose weight. Exercise also helps diabetics lower their blood glucose levels and reduce stress, potentially allowing them to take less medication for their conditions. Exercise also increases circulation in their arms and legs, and reduces cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

When beginning you want to start with exercises that are less strenuous such as walking, swimming and biking, especially for those who do not exercise regularly and may have foot problems. When walking and jogging you want to wear shoes that fit comfortably and are appropriate for the activity. Before you start exercising you want to stretch for at least 5 minutes to avoid potential injury. You should start with 5 to 10 minutes of exercise a day, five days ? week.

The goal for people with diabetes, especially those who are trying to lose weight, should be to work up to exercising 30 to 45 minutes ? day, five days a week and to gradually work up to more difficult exercises.

You can split up the exercise sessions into10-minute intervals each day, for those who have busy schedules. A step above beginning low-impact exercises, such as walking and swimming, age aerobic exercises. These exercises include brisk walks, aerobics classes, ice skating and rollerblading. These exercises are effective because they can increase heart rates and improve breathing rates.

Other exercises include strength training and flexibility exercises. Strength training involves lifting weights which help build muscles, toughen bones and burn calories. Flexibility training involves stretching exercises helps make joints more flexible and prepares the body for other exercises, especially jogging and running.

Everyday activities can be part of people’s daily exercise routines. People can get ? workout while they are going shopping or spending time at home along with doing more strenuous exercises regularly. These activities include walking whenever possible, taking stairs instead of elevators and doing task around the house every day, such as cleaning, gardening and mowing the lawn.

If you are taking insulin exercises should occur after meals, not before. Also if your blood sugar level is above 240 mg/dL you should not exercise. If you exercise more than an hour after eating, it is important to be aware of the blood sugar level. If it is below 120 mg/dL, it is a good idea to eat an apple or have a glass of milk before starting to exercise to increase blood sugar levels, as they will drop while exercising. Food and drinks high in carbohydrates, such as bagels and fruit, tend to increase blood glucose levels.

As an adolescent you already have more than enough body issues to deal with, without the added hassle of having to control your type 2 diabetes in the face of mounting peer group pressure. The hard truth is that some of the cool food and drink that is around is downright bad for you, and you will really have to stand up for yourself if you are going to make progress. You may find it helpful to explain your situation to a few good friends, who will then be able to provide encouragement when you feel down.

The real key to managing type 2 diabetes as an adolescent is to increase exercise, and decrease sweets or carbohydrate portions. It has been established that one of the main culprits in obesity in children and adolescents is the various types of sweetened drinks. Do you know many soft drinks contain the equivalent of six to eight teaspoons of sugar, often in the form of corn syrup which is highly concentrated and fattening?

To be successful you need to adopt a regular management program. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• enjoy lots of fruit and vegetables to help build your energy. Snack on fruit sticks, not chocolate bars. You need protein for health and it also helps with blood sugar control, and water to keep you from dehydrating. If possible eat small regular meals each day rather than three big ones. Try to include some low-GI food in your meals and snacks… low-GI food will keep your blood sugar levels more steady and then you will not lose concentration or have a “fuzzy’ head
• you need to stay away from sugar. Learn how food labels work. References to fructose, glucose, sucrose, any other -ose or corn syrup all mean one thing… the product contains sugar and is not meant for you
• make exercise an enjoyable part of your program… just don’t do anything too hectic without first touching base with your doctor. Grab a friend to do aerobics with, or maybe swimming, walking, running or hiking together… what a great way to have some fun
• invent ways to go outdoors and get mild exercise in the fresh air. Just walking to the shops is a good start, walking the family dog is even better.

Controlling, even reversing type 2 diabetes while you are still an adolescent, definitely does not have to be all gloom and doom and you can find ways to make it fun too.

Type 2 diabetes is not the end of the world… it is true you didn’t ask for it and now you need to make a lot of choices that will affect your health today and in the future. But your health is your responsibility, you just have to adopt a healthy lifestyle… which you and everyone should be doing anyway.