subject: Diabetes Risks And Causes [print this page] Diabetes Risks And Causes Diabetes Risks And Causes
In the United States, it is estimated that over 16 million people are suffering from Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes is a serious chronic condition that many people have, but are not aware they have it. There are three major types of Diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes exact cause is yet unknown, but it usually occurs when the immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin and eventually destroying them. This reaction in the body is identified as an autoimmune reaction. Facts suggest that certain bacterial or viral infections, consuming food contaminated with chemical toxins or exposure to cow's milk as a baby, are possible triggers and are involve in the process, which can bring about autoimmune reaction in the body.
Type 2 Diabetes cause occurs when the receptors on body cells that normally respond to insulin fail to be stimulated, a reaction called insulin resistance. When this occurs, the body produces more insulin eventually resulting in over-production and the insulin-manufacturing cells fail. Alternatively, this type of diabetes can develop when there is simply not enough insulin or when the insulin that is available is abnormal and therefore does not work. Type 2 Diabetes is more likely to occur in people advanced in years, those who are obese and in those who are not physically active. There are also other rarer causes of diabetes that have also been documented. These include certain medicines, during the pregnancy, in what is called gestational diabetes and as a result of disease that damages the pancreas and affects its ability to produce insulin. A good example of such a disease is pancreatitis.
Another Diabetes cause is the heredity. If both parents have type 2 Diabetes, there is a chance that their children will have it too. In identical twins, if one of them develops type 2 Diabetes, the chance of the other developing diabetes is nearly 100 percent as well. Drugs such as steroids and Dilantin have also been shown to have a bearing on diabetes cause. Drugs such as alloxan, thiazide diuretics and streptozocin are also toxic to the pancreas and can cause diabetes as well. To reduce the chances of developing type 2 Diabetes, regular exercise and healthy dietary habits will go a long way in doing this and thus avoid the risks that come with developing this disease.
