Diabetes: Causes and Effects Have you ever felt tired and listless lately? Do you have a persistent need to drink liquids all the time? Have you lost or gained a lot of weight lately? In 1999, one day, while taking a shower, I began to feel very weak. I started experiencing symptoms that made me think I was having another stroke; however, when the ambulance arrived, one of the technicians knew it was diabetes and not a stroke. However, diabetes can lead to stroke, kidney failure or heart disease, which are among the top ten causes of death in America. Diabetes can lead to many serious and potentially life-threatening conditions. Diabetes can be developed from obesity, lack of exercise and heredity. Diabetes can result from obesity; therefore, obesity is caused by a poor diet. Eating too much food that is extremely harmful to the body is a factor that contributes to the development of diabetes; foods such as: fried fatty foods, foods that are high in calories and carbohydrates. According to a study conducted by Jamey Marth, “high levels of fat deactivate a key enzyme that promotes glucose sensitivity in pancreatic beta cells, revealing a pathway implicated in the type 2 diabetes epidemic” (Bushman and Foulsham, 2011). Those who are obese have a high body mass index; therefore, you would have high levels of fat cells in your body. These fat cells lead to the development of diabetes. Obesity is caused by many factors; however, poor nutrition and lack of exercise appear to be the main causes that contribute to the onset of diabetes. Lack of exercise is a contributing factor to the development of diabetes in humans and animals. “It's not that the food you eat isn't important, but when it comes to... middle of the paper... the sake of their well-being to lead a healthier life. References Buschman, H., & Foulsham , G. (2011). How fat and obesity cause diabetes. UC Santa Barbara, University of California: press release. Retrieved from http://www.ia.ucsb.edu/pa/print.aspx?pkey=2547Dryden, J. (2003). Study: Lack of exercise plays a major role in obesity and diabetes. Washington University in St. Louis: Newsroom. Retrieved from http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/1832.aspxPierce, S. (2012). How does obesity cause diabetes? Diabetes Information: Diabetes support, news and information. Retrieved from http://www.informationaboutdiabetes.com/lifestyle/diabetes/type-2/how-does-obesity-cause-diabetes#Winter, S. (2012). It's in Your Genes: Type 2 Diabetes. Healthline: Genetics of Type 2 Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/genetics