Infection/Inflammation One study found a correlation between low grade infections and insulin resistance. Their conclusions: "Pathogen burden showed the strongest association with insulin resistance, especially with enteroviruses and C. pneumoniae seropositivity. We hypothesize that exposure to multiple pathogens could cause a chronic low-grade inflammation, resulting in insulin resistance." Burden of Infection and Insulin Resistance in Healthy Middle-Aged Men -- Fern�ndez-Real et al. 29 (5): 1058 -- Diabetes Care
Another study states that some components of the insulin resistance syndrome have been related to inflammatory markers and that chronic sub-clinical inflammation is part of insulin resistance syndrome.42
Low Grade Chronic Inflammation in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome -- Kelly et al. 86 (6): 2453 -- Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Insomnia It is known that short term sleep restriction results in glucose intolerance. In a long term prospective study (10 years), 70,000 non-diabetic women were followed. In evaluating the self-reported data from these women, researchers determined that long and short (5 hours or less) sleep durations were associated with an increased risk of diabetes diagnosis.17
Magnesium Deficiency and diabetes Magnesium is a mineral that is a catalyst in enzyme activity, especially of those enzymes used in energy production. Magnesium plays a role in carbohydrate metabolism and a deficiency can be synonymous with diabetes.9
How well the body metabolizes sugar is tightly linked to magnesium, making it essential to anyone with diabetes or insulin resistance. It is most helpful for type II diabetes or insulin resistance and somewhat helpful for type I diabetes.10
A review, designed to reach a better understanding of the mechanism involved in the correlation between magnesium and insulin resistance concluded that magnesium is required for both proper glucose utilization and insulin signaling and that metabolic alterations in cellular magnesium contribute to insulin resistance.12 A Public Health review notes that recent studies suggest a potential role for magnesium in preventing diabetes. 11
One article published in "Pediatrician" found that magnesium deficiency is the most evident disturbance of metal metabolism in diabetes. The article also states that there is evidence that the metabolism of magnesium and other trace elements is altered in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and that these nutrients might have a specific role in the origin and development of diabetes.3
Magnesium may prevent some of the complications of diabetes such as retinopathy and heart disease. 13
B6 is necessary in order to get magnesium into the cells.
Sleep disorders Sleeping too little or too much increases a persons chance of getting diabetes.17