Causes of Prediabetes?
Prediabetes occurs when your body isn't able to keep your blood sugar (glucose) at a normal level. Your sugar is higher than normal, but it's not high enough to be diabetes.
The exact cause of prediabetes is still unknown, although researchers have discovered some genes that are related to insulin resistance. Excess fat and inactivity are to be considered as the important factors in the development of prediabetes.
Most of the glucose in your body comes from the foods you eat, specifically foods that contain carbohydrates can affect your blood sugar levels, not just sweet foods.
Normally, during digestion, sugar enters your bloodstream and with the help of insulin is then absorbed into the body's cells to give them energy. But when your body can't use insulin the right way, the sugar doesn't move into cells. It stays in your blood instead. This is called insulin resistance.
Insulin is a hormone that comes from the pancreas, a gland located just behind the stomach. When you eat, your pancreas secretes insulin into your bloodstream. As insulin circulates, it acts like a key that unlocks microscopic doors that allow sugar to enter your cells. Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your bloodstream. As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas.
The buildup of sugar in the blood causes prediabetes. When you have prediabetes, this process begins to work improperly. Instead of fueling your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. This occurs when your pancreas doesn't make enough insulin or your cells become resistant to the action of insulin or both, prediabetes can turn into type 2 diabetes.
People who are overweight, aren't physically active, and have a family history of diabetes are more likely to get prediabetes. Women who have had gestational diabetes are also more likely to get prediabetes.
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Source & References:
- Prediabetes - Mayo Clinic. Retrieved last February 19, 2013
- Prediabetes Cause - Emedicinehealth.com. Retrieved last February 19, 2013
