Type II Diabetes: Disease or Lifestyle Choice?

I was at a lecture recently where the presenter stated, in very clear terms, the following:

Type 2 Diabetes is a lifestyle choice.

For many, that’s a statement that may be hard to hear. We’ve been trained to believe that Type II diabetes is “in our genes”. That we’ve either won or lost a genetic lottery.

It’s not true.

Study after study shows the link between lifestyle choices and development of diabetes. Like the link between the drinking of sugary drinks and diabetes, for example.

Do genes play a role? Certainly. They predispose us. They increase likelihood. But the problem is not our genes. The problem is our choices. If you are genetically tall and keep banging your head on a door frame, at some point you have to make a decision to duck.

The good news is that choices are just that. They’re decisions that we have the power to make.

If you’re diabetic, pre-diabetic, or know someone who is, you might be interested in Lia’s free Cooking for Diabetics class on Friday, June 10th at Loblaw from 6-8PM. You’ll learn how to cook and eat in a way that will help you make the right lifestyle choices when it comes to diabetes.

RSVP by visiting the customer service desk at Loblaw in Collingwood in person, or calling 445-4175 x4.