The Hidden Tipping Point
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) does not appear overnight. Its onset is slow, insidious, and often goes unnoticed until significant metabolic damage has already occurred. In many cases, the first trigger is a seemingly harmless gain in weight—particularly central or abdominal weight gain, which often accumulates gradually over years.
This weight gain is more than a cosmetic concern. It’s a metabolic warning sign. In clinical practice, doctors frequently see the development of Type 2 diabetes in individuals—particularly between the ages of 50 and 60—who have experienced a steady increase in belly fat. For this reason, the condition was traditionally referred to as adult-onset diabetes.
However, that narrative is changing.
We are now witnessing a disturbing trend: younger individuals in their 30s, even teens, are developing T2D. This surge is largely attributed to the rise in obesity and sedentary lifestyles. The abundance of high-calorie, processed foods and the reduction in daily physical activity have created an environment where the body’s systems are overwhelmed far earlier in life.
But here’s where it gets interesting—and more nuanced than commonly believed.
Beyond the Scale: It’s Not Just Obesity
While excessive weight gain remains the most common risk factor for T2D, it is not the weight alone that causes the disease. If that were the case, every person with a high Body Mass Index (BMI) would develop diabetes—which is clearly not true. Conversely, we often see lean individuals with a normal BMI who are diagnosed with T2D. How is this possible?
The answer lies in a concept gaining increasing attention in metabolic research: the Personal Fat Threshold.
The Personal Fat Threshold: Everyone Has a Limit
Recent studies have shown that each individual has a unique threshold—a limit to how much fat they can store safely, especially subcutaneous fat, which lies under the skin. Once this threshold is surpassed, the body begins to store fat ectopically—that is, inside organs not designed to hold fat, such as the liver and pancreas.
When fat begins to accumulate in the liver, it impairs the organ’s ability to regulate blood sugar. In the pancreas, the intrusion of fat interferes with the insulin-producing beta cells. Over time, this leads to insulin resistance—the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes—and a decreased capacity to produce insulin effectively.
So, it’s not necessarily about being overweight across the board; it’s about where the fat is stored and how much your body can handle. This explains why some people can carry excess weight for years without developing T2D, while others may develop it at a much lower weight.
Genetics and Fat Tolerance
Your genetic makeup plays a critical role in determining your personal fat threshold. Some individuals have a higher capacity to store fat safely under the skin, while others reach their threshold with far less fat accumulation. This explains why two people with identical diets and weights may have vastly different metabolic outcomes.
Understanding this concept has profound implications—not just for how we identify at-risk individuals, but also for how we treat and potentially reverse Type 2 diabetes.
Implications for Treatment and Reversal
If Type 2 diabetes is triggered by exceeding one’s personal fat threshold, then it stands to reason that reducing fat—especially liver and pancreatic fat—can reverse the disease. Clinical studies, such as those led by Professor Roy Taylor in the UK, have demonstrated that substantial weight loss, even in people with a normal BMI, can lead to a dramatic reduction in blood sugar levels and even complete remission of T2D.
This finding shifts the focus of treatment away from simply controlling blood sugar with medication, toward restoring metabolic balance through dietary intervention, fat loss, and lifestyle changes.
The takeaway is clear: Type 2 diabetes is not an inevitable consequence of aging or even obesity. It is a reversible metabolic condition triggered when fat storage overwhelms the body’s capacity to cope.
The takeaway of all this is: know your threshold—and act early
Understanding the true trigger of Type 2 diabetes helps empower both clinicians and patients. By recognizing that everyone has a personal fat threshold, we can take action early—through mindful nutrition, physical activity, and weight management—before irreversible damage occurs.
Most importantly, this perspective gives hope. Type 2 diabetes is not a life sentence. For many, it’s a challenge that can be overcome with the right knowledge, strategy, and support.