Type 2 diabetes is caused by insensitivity to insulin. The function of insulin is to help glucose, or simple sugar, enter some of your body’s cells, such as your muscle cells… then the sugar may be used for energy. When this sugar is not able to enter cells your blood sugar levels rise and then your pancreas responds by releasing more insulin.

This means as well as having high blood sugar levels, you also have high levels of insulin in your body which in turn causes your kidneys to retain sodium (salt). When your body retains sodium, it also retains water. This excess water strains your heart as it tries to pump the excess water through your blood vessels. This extra work results in hypertension, or high blood pressure. High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease, which probably explains at least part of the reason, that people with type 2 diabetes tend to have heart attacks more often than non-diabetics.

Another reason for the high number of heart attacks in type 2 diabetics is probably related to the work of fat cells around the waist or abdominal area. At one time it was thought that adipocytes, or fat cells, simply served as storage depots for fat. Further research has revealed that fat cells make adipokines… signals that have an important effect upon fat metabolism. Fat in your belly causes your body to make types of fat which are known to build plaques in your blood vessels. The narrowed blood vessels make it difficult for your heart to pump all the blood through this smaller space, increasing your heart’s work and blood pressure. Adipokines also appear to decrease insulin sensitivity, causing cells to be unable to take in sugar efficiently.

This combination… increased belly fat, certain types of fats in your blood, and high blood pressure is known as the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome, especially when combined with obesity, increases the risk for heart disease, strokes, and death. Most people with type 2 diabetes would already have the Metabolic syndrome.

Although your first goal is to control your blood sugar levels… in order to prevent vascular complications of diabetes, you also need to achieve normal levels of blood fats, or cholesterol. Above all, your belly fat or abdominal fat issue needs to be addressed as this is a major underlying problem.

Why not set yourself some small and achievable weight loss goals so you can gradually get rid of that belly fat!

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