When we talk about diabetes, many people think it is a single disease. However, there are different types of diabetes, and each one has different causes and treatments.
**Type 1 diabetes** is an autoimmune disease in which the body stops producing insulin and requires insulin treatment from diagnosis.
**Gestational diabetes** appears during pregnancy and requires specific monitoring to protect the health of both mother and baby.
**Type 2 diabetes**, on the other hand, accounts for around 90-95% of all cases and is the type most frequently associated with overweight, obesity and insulin resistance.
Type 2 diabetes does not appear overnight
In most people, type 2 diabetes develops slowly over several years.
Before blood glucose rises, changes such as **insulin resistance** usually appear — a situation in which the body needs to produce increasing amounts of insulin to keep sugar within normal levels.
During this stage many people have no symptoms and are unaware that their metabolic health is already deteriorating.
That is why detecting these changes early makes it possible to act before diabetes appears.
What is the relationship with obesity?
Obesity, especially when there is increased **abdominal fat**, promotes the development of insulin resistance and significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
However, developing diabetes is not an inevitable consequence of excess weight.
With appropriate treatment it is possible to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce the risk of diabetes and improve metabolic health.
The good news: in many cases it can be prevented
Scientific studies show that acting on risk factors can delay or even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.
The most effective measures include:
- • Reaching a healthy weight when there is overweight or obesity;
- • Maintaining a balanced diet based mainly on fresh foods;
- • Exercising regularly;
- • Getting adequate sleep;
- • Avoiding a sedentary lifestyle;
- • Having periodic medical check-ups when there is a family history or risk factors.
Every small change adds up and can make an important difference in the long run.
A takeaway message
Type 2 diabetes does not begin on the day an abnormal test result appears. It is generally the result of a process that develops over years and offers many opportunities to intervene.
If you have obesity, excess abdominal fat, insulin resistance, prediabetes or a family history of diabetes, a comprehensive medical evaluation can help detect these changes in time and design a personalised plan to protect your health.
Bibliographic references
- • American Diabetes Association. Standards of Care in Diabetes – 2026. Diabetes Care. 2026.
- • Davies MJ, Aroda VR, Collins BS, et al. Management of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes, 2022. A Consensus Report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Diabetes Care. 2022.
- • Echouffo-Tcheugui JB, Perreault L, Ji L, Dagogo-Jack S. Diagnosis and Management of Prediabetes. JAMA. 2023.
- • Elmaleh-Sachs A, Schwartz JL, Bramante CT, et al. Obesity Management in Adults: A Review. JAMA. 2023.
- • Mechanick JI, Farkouh ME, Newman JD, Garvey WT. Cardiometabolic-Based Chronic Disease: Addressing the Drivers of Cardiometabolic Risk. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020.
- • World Health Organization (WHO). Diabetes. Fact Sheet.