SR-AHEC
  • About Us
    • Staff Directory
      • Residents
        • Year One Residents
        • Year Two Residents
        • Year Three Residents
      • Administration and Finance
      • Regional Education
      • Clinical Business Office
      • Clinical Services
      • Faculty/Providers
      • Quality Improvement and Health Informatics
    • A Message From Our Program Office
    • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, and Core Values
    • Board of Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Dr. Deborah Teasley Award Nomination
    • 2019-2020 Annual Report
    • Facility Photo Tour
    • Map and Hours
    • Corporate Compliance Plan
  • Patient Services
    • New Patients Click Here
    • Patient Portal
    • Family Medicine
      • Our Clinic
      • New Patient Information
      • Medical Records Request
      • Patient Security
        Financial Responsibilities
    • Weight Loss Clinic
    • Behavioral Health
    • Specialty Medicine Center
    • ADHD Disorder Diagnostic Clinic
    • Blogs
      • Guidance to Good
        Health Blog
      • Piece of Mind Blog
    • Patient Resources
  • Continuing Education
    • Event Calendar
    • Continuing Professional Development
    • RN Refresher Program
    • AHA Training Center
      • AHA Training Center News and Updates
      • AHA Training Center Forms
    • Mental Health Education Blog
    • NCEBP Center
    • Professional Conference Management
    • General Reference
  • Residency & Student Information
    • Family Medicine Residency
    • Fellowship Programs
      • Diabetes
      • Faculty Development
    • Student Rotations
      • VCOM
        • Information
        • Contact Us
      • ORPCE
      • Preceptors
      • Audition Rotations
      • Student Housing
    • Health Careers
      • Youth Health Service Corps
        • Information
        • Application Form
      • Health Careers TEACH
      • Health Careers H.U.M.P.
      • NC AHEC Scholars Program
        • Requirements
        • Application Form
      • Passport For NC AHEC Health Careers Students
      • SAT / ACT
  • Practice Support
    • COVID-19 Resources and Guidance from SR-AHEC Practice Support
    • Our Services
    • Application
  • Education Resources
    • MyAHEC Log-In
    • AHEC Digital Library Log-In
    • MyCE Log-In
    • Library Services
  • Pay My Bill
  • About Us
    • Staff Directory
      • Residents
        • Year One Residents
        • Year Two Residents
        • Year Three Residents
      • Administration and Finance
      • Regional Education
      • Clinical Business Office
      • Clinical Services
      • Faculty/Providers
      • Quality Improvement and Health Informatics
    • A Message From Our Program Office
    • About Us
    • Mission, Vision, and Core Values
    • Board of Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Dr. Deborah Teasley Award Nomination
    • 2019-2020 Annual Report
    • Facility Photo Tour
    • Map and Hours
    • Corporate Compliance Plan
  • Patient Services
    • New Patients Click Here
    • Patient Portal
    • Family Medicine
      • Our Clinic
      • New Patient Information
      • Medical Records Request
      • Patient Security
        Financial Responsibilities
    • Weight Loss Clinic
    • Behavioral Health
    • Specialty Medicine Center
    • ADHD Disorder Diagnostic Clinic
    • Blogs
      • Guidance to Good
        Health Blog
      • Piece of Mind Blog
    • Patient Resources
  • Continuing Education
    • Event Calendar
    • Continuing Professional Development
    • RN Refresher Program
    • AHA Training Center
      • AHA Training Center News and Updates
      • AHA Training Center Forms
    • Mental Health Education Blog
    • NCEBP Center
    • Professional Conference Management
    • General Reference
  • Residency & Student Information
    • Family Medicine Residency
    • Fellowship Programs
      • Diabetes
      • Faculty Development
    • Student Rotations
      • VCOM
        • Information
        • Contact Us
      • ORPCE
      • Preceptors
      • Audition Rotations
      • Student Housing
    • Health Careers
      • Youth Health Service Corps
        • Information
        • Application Form
      • Health Careers TEACH
      • Health Careers H.U.M.P.
      • NC AHEC Scholars Program
        • Requirements
        • Application Form
      • Passport For NC AHEC Health Careers Students
      • SAT / ACT
  • Practice Support
    • COVID-19 Resources and Guidance from SR-AHEC Practice Support
    • Our Services
    • Application
  • Education Resources
    • MyAHEC Log-In
    • AHEC Digital Library Log-In
    • MyCE Log-In
    • Library Services
  • Pay My Bill

Diabetes Blog Post: Why do some people develop diabetes and others don’t?

By Lenny Salzberg, M.D.
May 2020

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes

Why do some people develop diabetes, and others don’t? Lifestyle and environmental factors account for the majority of the diabetes epidemic. We know that an energy-dense Western-style diet (food trucks, anyone?) and a sedentary lifestyle (thanks, COVID-19 L) are responsible for the epidemic of obesity, and that obesity often leads to diabetes. But not everyone who is obese gets diabetes, and not everyone with diabetes is obese! Why???

Genetics! Scientists have already identified 500 genes that are associated with type 2 diabetes, which together account for 20% of the predisposition to type 2 diabetes. But genes don’t explain everything. In addition to genetic factors, there are “epigenetic” factors, which are influences outside the DNA. These include things like aging, the environment, and exposure to substances during gestation. For example, prenatal exposure to famine has been associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Also, the children of women who have gestational diabetes are eight times more likely to develop diabetes themselves! So, if you don’t want your baby to grow up to have diabetes, don’t get pregnant during a famine, but if you must, don’t get diabetes while you are pregnant!

What are some surprising risk factors for diabetes? Many of us know about the risks incurred by lack of exercise and by drinking Mountain Dew and other sugar-sweetened beverages (e.g. sweet tea). But did you know that eating a low fiber diet, not sleeping enough, and even exposure to loud road noise are all independent risk factors for diabetes? Did you know that drinking 3 or more cups of coffee (either caffeinated or decaffeinated) is associated with a lower risk of diabetes?

The microbiome

One of the frontiers in diabetes risk management involves our complex intestinal ecosystem: the “gut microbiome.” The gut is nearly sterile at birth. However, by age three, the gut has acquired most of the microbes that will be present through adulthood. These microscopic organisms (certain types of bacteria, fungi, and viruses) share a symbiotic relationship with the lining of the gut.

The two main types of bacteria in the gut are called Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Firmicutes are found predominantly in the small intestines, while Bacteroidetes reside mostly in the colon. These bacteria are involved in nutrient metabolism, drug metabolism, maintenance of the gut lining, and protection against pathogens. Dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut microbes) occurs as a result of an unhealthy diet, antibiotic treatment, or chronic infection. In one study, four days of a meat-based diet rapidly decreased the abundance of Firmicutes in the gut. Who would have thought that eating meat was bad for us? Also, it has been shown that the guts of patients with diabetes and prediabetes have fewer of the type of bacteria that change carbohydrates into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs affect metabolism, energy balance, and the stability of the immune system.

Strategies to prevent and treat diabetes through manipulation of the gut microbiome are being developed. We know that you can help your own microbiome by consuming “prebiotics”, like vegetables and fruit. Probiotics, like kefir and yogurt, may also improve your gut microbiome! In the meantime, pick your parents well, eat a high fiber diet, avoid meat, drink a lot of coffee AND get enough sleep, and try not to live next to a highway! Good luck!

 

Previous StoryLemmings, Toilets, and Reptile Brains: How Should We Respond to COVID-19 Hysteria?
Next StoryIllness Anxiety in the Pandemic Era

1 reply added

  1. Evangelyn Cottingham May 9, 2020 Reply

    Diabetes Blog Post: Why do some people develop diabetes and others don’t?
    This is an interesting article, My response is WOW, the reason what coffee can lower the blood sugar. YES === N0

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

CATEGORIES

  • BLOG (36)
  • GUIDANCE TO GOOD HEALTH BLOG (9)
  • MENTAL HEALTH (17)
  • PIECE OF MIND (14)

ARCHIVES

  • January 2021 (1)
  • November 2020 (1)
  • October 2020 (1)
  • September 2020 (1)
  • August 2020 (2)
  • July 2020 (1)
  • May 2020 (4)
  • March 2020 (2)
  • February 2020 (2)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (2)
  • October 2019 (3)
  • September 2019 (2)
  • August 2019 (2)
  • July 2019 (2)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • May 2019 (4)
  • April 2019 (2)
  • March 2019 (4)

CALENDAR

January 2021
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Nov    

ABOUT US

Southern Regional AHEC is one of nine Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) in North Carolina. Each of the nine AHECs is connected with a medical school (within the state) and is a member of the North Carolina AHEC Program. Southern Regional AHEC is proudly affiliated with Duke University Medical Center.

We support our residency and continuing education programs by:

  • Training family physicians and other health care professionals
  • Providing primary health care for families in Cumberland County and the surrounding area through our Duke/Family Medicine Residency Program
  • Coordinating rotations for third and fourth-year medical students through the Office of Regional Primary Care Education (ORPCE)
  • Delivering continuing professional development to healthcare professionals
  • Works collaboratively with education and health oriented organizations in our region to improve healthcare access

Southern Regional Area Health Education Center is where learning, teaching and healing come together!

1601 Owen Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28304 │ Patient Services: (910) 678-0100 │ Continuing Education: (910) 678-7226 │ Privacy Notice
Copyright 2020

Resize
Adjust Contrast