How to Give Yourself Diabetes

Photo: Chevralay
Although researchers don’t know exactly what causes diabetes, it affects 21 million people in the U.S. and continues to “spread.” The American Diabetes Association explains that in diabetes, the body doesn’t produce or properly use insulin. (Insulin converts starches and sugars into our body’s fuel.)

Here’s few things that can put you on the fast track to diabetes.

• Watch two or more hours of TV daily. Increased risk: 14%
• Have one bout of major depression. Increased risk: 23%
• Eat lots of processed meat. Increased risk: 43%
• Skip breakfast every morning. Increased risk: up to 50%
• Drinking one soda every day. Increased risk: 83%
• Wake up at night and don’t return to sleep. Increased risk: 98%
• Eat fast food more than twice a week. Increased risk: 100%
• Have the majority of your extra body mass (fat) around your waist instead of evenly distributed. Increased risk: a whopping 330%

We say it a lot around here, but it bears repeating: Eat healthy and exercise to help avoid all of the above.