An-Najah Staff

Type II diabetes has been described to have an epidemic-like spread all over the world with special emphasis on countries experiencing the transition to western lifestyle. Diabetes Mellitus affects more than 14 million cases In the US. and is the leading cause of new blindness and kidney disease. Diabetes also causes nerve disease, heart disease, and stroke each year At least 19000 people die from diabetes and its complication. People with higher than average risk Of type II diabetes are those who are overweight and people who are not physically active. About 317 people over the age of 35 were selected from Nablus community to participate in this study. Study participants were examined for type of work, diet and the extent to which they are involved in physical activity. They were also examined for weight, height fasting blood sugar and blood pressure. SPSS software was used to provide descriptive and cross-tabulation analysis of collected data, the also relationship between the risk factors to develop type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and one or more of lifestyle patterns was examined Almost all results were consistent with the findings of international literature especially those related to the neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia. Conclusions of our study confirms that: - Diabetes Type II can be prevented as in all other studies about the subject. - There is a significant relation between lifestyle, diet, and occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes. - Even though level of general education for study sample was good, knowledge about the disease was very low. -Males demonstrated to be more susceptible for type 2 diabetes than females of the same age group in the sample study.