Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It is caused by several things, including lifestyle factors and genetics.
Being overweight and physically inactive
You are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes if you are not physically active and are overweight or obese. Extra weight sometimes causes insulin resistance and is common in people with Type 2 diabetes. The location of body fat also makes a difference. Extra belly fat is linked to insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, and heart and blood vessel disease.
Insulin resistance
Type 2 diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance. This is a condition in which muscle, liver, and fat cells do not use insulin well. As a result, your body needs more insulin to help glucose enter your cells. The pancreas makes more insulin at first. Then as time passes, the pancreas can’t make enough, and blood glucose levels increase.
Family history
According to the National Institutes of Health, Type 2 diabetes does not have a clear pattern of inheritance. However, many affected individuals have at least one close family member with the disease. The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes increases with the number of affected family members. The increased risk is likely due, in part, to shared genetic factors. It is also related to a person's lifestyle (such as eating and exercise habits) that is shared by family members.
Family history also can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes. One factor can be a person’s tendency to become overweight or obese.