Diabetes: and its causes

Diabetes

Tday, we are looking at   two types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes

What causes type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease. it occurs when the immune system, attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Scientists think type 1 diabetes is caused by genes and environmental factors, such as viruses, that might trigger the disease.  

What causes type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes—the most common form of diabetes—is caused by several factors, including lifestyle factors and genes.

Overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity

You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are not physically active and are overweight or obese.

Extra weight sometimes causes insulin resistance and is common in people with type 2 diabetes. The location of body fat also makes a difference.

Extra belly fat is linked to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and heart and blood vessel disease.  

Factors that increase your risk differ depending on the type of diabetes you ultimately develop.

This occurs when the blood sugar is consistently high

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Symptoms of diabetes include

• increased thirst and urination
• increased hunger
• fatigue
• blurred vision
• numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
• sores that do not heal
• unexplained weight loss

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can start quickly while Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms.

Some people do not find out they have the disease until they have diabetes-related health problems, such as blurred vision or heart trouble.

Risk factors for Type 1 diabetes include:

• Having a family history (parent or sibling) of Type 1 diabetes.
• Injury to the pancreas (such as by infection, tumor, surgery or accident).
• Presence of autoantibodies (antibodies that mistakenly attack your own body’s tissues or organs).
• Physical stress (such as surgery or illness).
• Exposure to illnesses caused by viruses.

Risk factors for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes include:

• Family history (parent or sibling) of prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes.
• Being African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian-American race or Pacific Islander.
• Being overweight.
• Having high blood pressure.
• Having low HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and high triglyceride level.
• Being physically inactive.
• Being age 45 or older.
• Having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
• Having polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Having a history of heart disease or stroke.
• Being a smoker.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes include:

• Family history (parent or sibling) of prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes.
• Being African-American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian-American.
• Being overweight before your pregnancy.
• Being over 25 years of age.