A lot of people think they understand diabetes, but most people do not know what causes diabetes to occur in the first place. Unfortunately, when we do not know why something is happening, there is little we can do to improve the situation. The causes of diabetes vary depending upon the type of disease that a person develops. There are 2 different types of this disease; Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes is linked strongly to genetic components that we can not yet control, Type 2 Diabetes is caused by a number of variables. Even though Type 2 Diabetes does have some links to your genetic makeup, it is considered a more preventable problem than Type 1.

It is often possible for an individual to avoid or control Type 2 Diabetes with proper diet, exercise and education. Understanding the causes of diabetes and knowing what you can do to prevent the disease is crucial to a healthy life. This brief guide is intended to help you learn more about the causes and risk factors for diabetes.

The Role of the Pancreas

When a person is in good health their pancreas helps control their blood sugar levels. This abdominal organ is located near the stomach. The pancreas releases insulin that helps your body metabolize or store the sugars that result from the foods that are eaten each day. Usually the pancreas controls the insulin and sugar levels and keeps everything regulated within normal parameters.

There are 3 basic causes of diabetes.

1.      The pancreas begins to produce too little insulin for the needs of the body.

2.      The pancreas fails to produce any insulin at all.

3.      A person can develop a condition that is known as Insulin Resistance. People who have this disorder are unable to use the available insulin in the appropriate manner.

Type 1 Diabetes vs Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the body fails to produce insulin. This is considered to be a more severe form of the disease than Type 2 Diabetes, and it occurs earlier in life. With Type 1 Diabetes the affected individuals are required to perform frequent blood sugar checks on a daily basis and usually depend on insulin injections to regulate their blood sugar levels. Some Type 1 diabetics have to use both insulin injections and oral medication to keep their disease under control.

Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the pancreas is not secreting enough insulin to keep up with the needs of the body. It also occurs in people whose systems have become insulin resistant and are no longer able to use the available insulin in an appropriate manner. In both of these cases the sugar (or glucose) is unable to be transported out of the bloodstream and the blood glucose levels become elevated. If a patient fasts overnight and his morning blood surge is measured at 126mg/dL or higher it is considered to be a sign of diabetes.

Understanding the Causes of Diabetes

There is not yet any way to determine who might be diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. However there are some specific risk factors and causes that can lead to a person developing Type 2 Diabetes. Causes of diabetes and related risk factors include:

Overweight

Yo-Yo weight loss over many months, or years

A diet that is high in fats and sugars is one of the most significant causes of diabetes.

Excessive alcohol use

High blood pressure

Inactive lifestyle

Prolonged Stress

Elevated triglyceride levels

Additional Related Causes of Diabetes

Some of the causes of diabetes are related to genetics and aging. The risk of having Type 2 Diabetes is more prevalent in populations of Native Americans, African Americans and Hispanics. If your ancestors are from one or more of these groups you have a greater risk of becoming a diabetic.

There is a higher likelihood for someone to develop this disease at age 45 and the chance of being diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic will continue to increase with every successive year. By the age of 65 there is a significant chance that an individual will be diagnosed as either a diabetic or a pre-diabetic.