Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in America, but why? What causes diabetes, and what makes this disease so common?

Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Louisville provides some helpful answers.

What Causes Diabetes?

The exact causes of diabetes are still unknown, but experts say things like family history of the disease, obesity and lack of exercise are some of the biggest risk factors.

While there’s really no escaping your family history, which is perhaps the most common cause of diabetes, healthy lifestyle changes go a long way in lowering your risk of diabetes. We’ve listed some more healthy lifestyle changes you can make to increase your chances of staying healthy.

Ways to Lower Diabetes Risk

• Eat a high-fiber diet.
• Lose weight if you’re overweight or obese.
• Exercise regularly.
• Drink lots of water.
• Quit or refrain from smoking.
• Avoid a sedentary lifestyle.

Why Is It So Common?

While Type 1 diabetes generally has unknown causes, the causes of Type 2 diabetes are typically lifestyle-related.

Things like a sedentary lifestyle, a poor diet and being overweight or obese occur in almost every case of Type 2 diabetes, so, as we said earlier, it’s so important to implement healthy lifestyle changes to lower your risk of experiencing health complications that diabetes can cause. We’ve listed just a few of those adverse health complications below.

Negative Effects of Diabetes on the Body

• Increases stroke risk
• Can cause cataracts and glaucoma
• Increases risk of heart disease and other infections
• Leads to chronically high blood sugar levels
• Causes nerve damage

Above all, our AFC Urgent Care Louisville team wants you to stay healthy and well this year. If you have any questions regarding diabetes or any other general medical concerns, don’t wait to reach out to our team today!