The Numerous Causes of Diabetes
Diabetes is a life-long condition once you’ve developed it and although it can be difficult at first, with time, you can manage and treat it effectively. Treating diabetes and keeping it under a manageable level requires knowing the causes of diabetes. There are two types of diabetes, simply referred to as Type I and Type II. Childhood diabetes is associated with Type I and adult onset diabetes is Type II. The simpler definitions encompass all previous definitions of what’s commonly known as Diabetes Mellitus.
Type-I diabetes is related to our autoimmune function, in which our body suffers from an insulin deficiency, as the insulin producing cells in the pancreas get completely destroyed due to this malady. The exact causes of diabetes are unknown, especially of Type-I, but this disorder is generally attributed to specific viral or a bacterial infection of some kind, chemical toxins found in food items, or cow?s milk fed to infants.
The other type of diabetes, which is dominant among adults, is type II diabetes. The underlying reason for this version of the condition is insulin resistance. In simple terms, although insulin is amply produced, the cells that react upon it fail to be receptive. The body’s natural reaction is to maintain its insulin production as long as the cells keep using them and when the cells fail to receive the produced insulin, the system simply assumes it’s not producing enough and keeps producing more. This exhausts the pancreatic cells, which produce insulin. In reaction to the circumstances, the pancreas fails to produce usable insulin thereafter. The causes of diabetes type II are varied, but are strongly linked to many factors.
The risk factors that are believed to be the main causes of diabetes in the type II category are advancing age, obesity and lack of physical exercise. Secondary factors include specific medications, pregnancy (often temporary and known as gestational diabetes) and existing illnesses related to the pancreas, such as pancreatitis.
There are many things we’ve heard about diabetes and if the generations before us are to be believed, the causes of diabetes include eating too much sugar and stress. But, studies and research show neither of these can develop diabetes directly, although they do have an impact in varied ways. Consuming heavy amounts of sugar can lead to obesity, which can in turn be a cause for developing diabetes. If you eat lots of sugary food and get enough exercise, the risk factor is much lower.
Stress is also not a reason to develop diabetes, although it’s loosely considered to be among the causes of diabetes as a very remotely possible trigger to create an autoimmune process, which could lead to type I diabetes. Stress is mostly a problem for those who already have diabetes, as it can worsen the condition.
Diabetes cannot be classified as a disease and it is not infectious. It is generally attributed to individuals? unhealthy lifestyle and habits, and other causes of diabetes include genetic factors, which make it a hereditary problem. An individual with a family history needs to be careful about his lifestyle and get regular medical tests done to ensure his well-being. Diabetes requires some care and medical attention to be kept at bay, and if one does get afflicted, with proper medication and precautions, it can be kept under control.
