Diabetes and the Causes

Diabetes and the causes of type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Diabetes is sometimes referred to as a "silent killer" because of its nature. The causes for diabetes are often unknown by the people who are affected by it, and even less by people who aren't. We will outline in this article what exactly are the causes for diabetes so you will be better informed next time someone asks you about diabetes and the causes of diabetic mellitus.

First of all, you have to know that there are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. While they were both branded with the term "diabetes", they are very different in terms of symptoms and treatments. Type 1 diabetes, which is sometimes referred to as juvenile diabetes, is a disease that affects the immune system. It was called juvenile diabetes because it is the most common type of diabetes among young children.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, thus resulting in irregular blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes and the causes for it are still widely unknown by researchers, which makes it a very difficult, even impossible disease to prevent. People with type 1 diabetes will need treatment throughout their lives. The most common treatment against this type of diabetes is insulin support coupled with careful monitoring of blood sugar levels using blood testing monitors. 

Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that is crucial in the breakdown of glucose in the blood.  Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diabetes cases. Contrary to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and the causes for it are very well known. The cells become either less sensitive to insulin or develop an irregular resistance to it; so the pancreas, the organ responsible for insulin production, becomes unable to produce insulin in proper quantities.

Many factors can influence the occurrence of type 2 diabetes; namely old age, irregular metabolism, and other hereditary factors. In the US, African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans and American Indians have been shown to have more risk of developing type 2 diabetes in their lives.

Now that you know the basics about diabetes and the causes of it, the best piece of advice I could give you is to see a nutritionist so they will be able to show you how you can adjust your diet so it doesn't put a strain on your pancreas; this way, you'll be able to at least lower the risk of you developing a case of diabetes anytime soon…