Since there are different types of diabetes, each type has a unique possible cause.
The main two causes of diabetes is the body's failure to produce enough of the insulin hormone, and secondly the body develops a resistance to insulin.
·Type 1 diabetes is due to decreased insulin production.
·Type 2 is due to insulin resistance in peripheral tissues.
·In juvenile diabetes, the cause might probably be a lack of vitamin D.
There is also gestational diabetes that only occurs in pregnant women.
Causes of diabetes -
Diabetes mellitus occurs when the pancreas does not create sufficient or any of the hormone insulin, or when the insulin produced does not work efficiently. Thus, this causes the level of glucose in the blood to be higher than normal levels
1. In Type 1 diabetes, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are attacked and destroyed by the body's own immune system, causing a severe lack of insulin.
It is not clear why this happens, but possible triggers of this reaction could be -
·infection with a specific virus or bacteria;
·exposure to food-borne chemical toxins or
·exposure to cow's milk when as an infant, where as a yet unidentified component of the milk triggers an autoimmune reaction in the body.
However, these are only assumption, and are yet to be proven.
Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children, teenagers or young adults. Scientists believe this is a genetically caused condition and is not related to lifestyle habits.
Risk factors for developing type - 1diabetes include:
1.Family history - a child that has a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes has a 2-6% chance of developing the disease.
2.Autoimmune disorders - such as thyroid disease and celiac disease, raises the risk of type 1 diabetes.
3.Early stoppage of breastfeeding and/or exposure to cow's milk - breastfeeding an infant for at least three months decreases the risk of type 1 diabetes. Some studies also show that exposure to cow's milk or cow's milk-based formula before one year of age may increase diabetes risk.
4.Ethnicity - Americans, Caucasians have a greater risk of type 1 diabetes as compared to African-Americans, Asian Americans, Latin Americans.
5.History of childhood virus diseases
2. Type 2 diabetes is believed to develop when:
·the receptors on the human cells in the body that respond to the action of insulin fall short of being stimulated by it - known as insulin resistance. In reaction to this, more insulin may be produced, and this over-production exhausts the insulin-manufacturing cells in the pancreas;
·there is just insufficient insulin available in the body and
·the insulin that is available may be abnormal and therefore doesn't function properly.
The following risk factors increase the chances of one developing Type 2 diabetes:
·increasing age
·if it runs in the family, ie. hereditary
·obesity
·high blood pressure
·diet which is high in fat and low in dietary fibre
·sedentary lifestyle with no or very less physical activity.
·certain medicines such as diurectics, which increase the amount of water flowing into the urine. Corticosteroids can also lead to diabetes because they work against the action of insulin.
·gestational diabetes
·any illness or disease that damages the pancreas and affects its ability to produce insulin e.g. pancreatitis. (inflammation of the pancreas) and thyrotoxicosis (a poisonous condition that results from an overactive thyroid gland).
·hormone treatments, such as growth hormone, thyroid hormone and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH).
What does not cause diabetes?
It is also important to be aware of the different myths that have arisen about the causes of diabetes over time.
Eating sweets, excess sugar or the wrong kind of food (fried and fatty food) does not cause diabetes. However, this type of a diet may cause obesity, and overweight people are generally prone to developing Type 2 diabetes. So, its not the food, but the effect of food that may cause diabetes.
So, if you love eating and are a foodoholic, make sure to burn out the extra calories that go on to make the flab.
Stress does not cause diabetes, although it may be a trigger for the body turning on itself as in the case of Type 1 diabetes. Stress, however does definitely make the symptoms worse for those who already have diabetes.
People with diabetes should never eat sugar and sweets. Sugar and sweets do raise the blood glucose, but people with diabetes can safely eat sugar as part of their meal plan.
People with diabetes should eat a special diabetes diet. This is a false notion. One has to eat regulated, along with a balanced diet.
Diabetes is not contagious. Someone with diabetes cannot transmit it on to anyone else.
Type 2 Diabetes is often referred to as adult onset diabetes for the simple reason that most Type 2 Diabetes diagnoses occur in the adult years. Unlike Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes is not an autoimmune disease. Rather than destroying the cells that produce insulin, in Type 2 Diabetes, the body shows a resistance to this insulin and the cells ignore the insulin that is produced.
Risk Factors
Like Type 1 Diabetes, there is no known cause for Type 2 Diabetes and there is no known cure. Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic condition, which means that it is a long-term disease that cannot be cured, but that can be managed. Once you are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, it is important that you begin a plan to successfully manage the symptoms of the disease as quickly as possible in order to avoid or delay other complications and illnesses that can derive from untreated diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes can in people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds. However, there are some groups that are at higher risk for Type 2 Diabetes, such as African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos.
Obesity is one of the many factors that can contribute to the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. While obesity does not cause the disease, the presence of more fatty tissue can cause the cells to become more resistant to the insulin that your body naturally produces.
Inactivity can also make the risk of contracting Type 2 Diabetes higher. Exercise and physical activity helps you to control your weight as well as uses up glucose as energy, which helps to make your cells more sensitive to insulin.
Family history and age can also play an important role in the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. The risk of Type 2 Diabetes increases if you have a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. The risk also increases as you age, simply because people tend to get less exercise, lose muscle mass, and gain weight all of which contribute to the cells becoming more resistant to the insulin that your body produces.
Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Prevented?
There are many contributing factors to Type 2 Diabetes. Even if diabetes runs in your family, there are certain lifestyle choices that can help to reduce your risk of Type 2 Diabetes or to help reduce the risk of other complication and illnesses that can be a result of Type 2 Diabetes.
One of the most important prevention tools is a healthy diet. A healthy diet consists of foods that are low in fat and calories and includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Sweets do not have to be totally avoided, however should be consumed in small quantities and should be a part of a diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Regular exercise is also an important prevention tool. Since obesity is one of the most common risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes, a regular exercise routine combined with a healthy diet not only reduces your risk of obesity and the onset of Type 2 Diabetes symptoms, it also reduces your risk of other illnesses and diseases. Regular exercise also helps to maintain good muscle tone and good blood flow, both of which help your body to function properly and aid in the prevention and recovery of many illnesses and diseases.
While Type 2 Diabetes is a serious and long-term illness, and can result in life-threatening complications, a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes does not have to be a death sentence. Proper education and management of the disease can increase your chance of living a long healthy life and it starts with maintaining a healthy lifestyle as early in life as possible. Type 2 Diabetes is a serious, yet manageable disease. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one of the most important things you can do in the prevention and management of Type 2 Diabetes.
Both Tom alter & Dr John Anne are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tom alter has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acne Treatment, Alcohol Treatment and Asthma. For diabetes information, diabetes diet, diabetes treatment, diabetes causes visit . Tom alter's top article generates over 135000 views. Bookmark Tom alter to your Favourites.
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