How can overeating lead to diabetes?

Overeating leads to weight gain. Weight gain increases your risk of developing diabetes. When you carry excess weight, especially around your abdomen, your risk of diabetes increases. Your endocrine system which controls diabetes is affected by the extra pounds which in turn affects your pancreas and insulin production and can lead to insulin resistance.

Becoming overweight through overeating is the biggest diet-related risk factor for type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Although many people mistakenly believe that eating too much sugar leads to diabetes, the truth is that eating too much of any type of food may raise your risk of diabetes. That's because most of the food you eat is converted to sugar (glucose) in your body. Consuming sugary foods may increase how fast your blood glucose level rises, but overeating any food increases the total amount of sugar you have in your blood.

Experts know that excess weight (especially around the waist) increases the chances that you'll become less responsive to insulin -- the hormone that normally moves glucose out of the blood into cells, where it can be used as fuel. Insulin resistance increases your risk for type 2 diabetes or at least suggests that you're on your way to developing the disease. Talk to your doctor about the right amounts of calories for you and ways to make healthy food choices.