It claims that overweight is a symptom (rather than the cause) of diabetes, and that diabetes is simply genetic.
– Courtney (last name unknown) Via the blog
While there is most certainly a genetic component to type-2 diabetes, environmental (AKA dietary) factors determine whether or not this “genetic potential” is ever reached.
Renowned obesity researcher George Bray perfectly encapsulates the delicate interplay between “nature” and “nurture” with this quote:
“ Genes load the gun, the environment pulls the trigger. “
The dramatic surge in type-2 diabetes rates can not be solely attributed to genetics.
According to figures from the American Diabetic Association and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), adult type-2 diabetes cases in the United States doubled between 1990 and 2005.
Keep in mind, too, that once upon a time type-2 diabetes was appropriately known as “adult-onset diabetes”, since it was only diagnosed in the adult population.
However, according to the CDC, “The incidence of type 2 in adolescents has increased 10 times over the last decade and now constitutes just under 1/3 of new pediatric diabetes cases (it was 2% 20 years ago).” Genes don’t change over the course of ten or twenty years.
As for excess weight not being a symptom of type-2 diabetes, it goes against the conclusions of hundreds of top-notch research studies. Not only has excess weight been shown to increase diabetes risk; the loss of excess weight also undoubtedly decreases risk!
It claims that overweight is a symptom (rather than the cause) of diabetes, and that diabetes is simply genetic.
– Courtney (last name unknown)
Via the blog
While there is most certainly a genetic component to type-2 diabetes, environmental (AKA dietary) factors determine whether or not this “genetic potential” is ever reached.
Renowned obesity researcher George Bray perfectly encapsulates the delicate interplay between “nature” and “nurture” with this quote:
The dramatic surge in type-2 diabetes rates can not be solely attributed to genetics.
According to figures from the American Diabetic Association and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), adult type-2 diabetes cases in the United States doubled between 1990 and 2005.
Keep in mind, too, that once upon a time type-2 diabetes was appropriately known as “adult-onset diabetes”, since it was only diagnosed in the adult population.
However, according to the CDC, “The incidence of type 2 in adolescents has increased 10 times over the last decade and now constitutes just under 1/3 of new pediatric diabetes cases (it was 2% 20 years ago).” Genes don’t change over the course of ten or twenty years.
As for excess weight not being a symptom of type-2 diabetes, it goes against the conclusions of hundreds of top-notch research studies. Not only has excess weight been shown to increase diabetes risk; the loss of excess weight also undoubtedly decreases risk!
7 Commentsgenetics, obesity, overweight, type-2 diabetes