Sugar or diabetes is a metabolic disease that is increasing at an alarming rate among Malayalis today and that adversely affects most of the organs of the body. When the food we eat is digested and converted into glucose, the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin to transport it to the cells. The cause of sugar is the malfunctioning of this insulin. The most common of these is type-2 diabetes. Here are the 5 main scientific reasons behind this:
Insulin Resistance of Cells: The most important scientific reason for the occurrence of type-2 diabetes is insulin resistance. In this condition, although the pancreas produces enough insulin, the cells in the body are unable to use it properly. When carbohydrates such as rice and flour desserts are consumed in excess, glucose in the blood rises and the cells do not accept insulin. Due to this, glucose does not enter the cells and remains in the blood.
Genetics & Family History: Family history plays a major role in the development of diabetes. If one or both parents have diabetes, the risk of developing diabetes in children is 40 to 80 percent higher. When people with this genetic predisposition also adopt a bad lifestyle, the disease develops at a very young age.
Obesity & Visceral Fat: Weight gain, especially visceral fat, doubles the risk of diabetes. Excess fat cells release certain chemicals and fatty acids into the blood. These disrupt the natural function of the insulin hormone and lead to insulin resistance.
Sedentary Lifestyle: Sitting in front of the computer for long periods of time and a lifestyle without exercise slow down the digestion of glucose in the cells. When we exercise, the muscles can take up glucose directly from the blood without the help of insulin. When exercise is stopped, this process is interrupted and blood sugar levels rise.
Beta Cell Dysfunction in the Pancreas: Type-1 Diabetes, which is seen in children and young adults, is caused by the body’s immune system attacking and destroying the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, seeing them as an enemy. Due to this, insulin production in the body stops completely. In addition, the increase in the hormone ‘cortisol’ due to severe mental stress also affects the function of insulin.
