What Causes Diabetes?

Know detailed information on diabetes causes, diabetes type 1 juvenile diabetes and diabetes type 2 and whether anybody can die of diabetes.

In the following paragraphs causes of each type of diabetes are given.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (Type II) is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all people with diabetes. It generally happens to people above 40 years of age (adult onset diabetes) and is usually hereditary. However, more and more younger people, even children, are getting type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes Type 2 is a non insulin dependent diabetes which is a result of body tissues becoming resistant to insulin or the insulin is not produced in the amount the body needs and it does not work effectively.

You are at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes due to following:

1. Lifestyle factors: Lifestyle factors such as high blood pressure, overweight, obesity, no physical activity, poor diet and apple shape body.
2. A study (January 2004 issue of the Journal Diabetes Care) suggests that people with a deficiency in magnesium have increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
3. Drinking two or more sweetened fruit drinks and other soft drinks per day for one month can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 31% and other diseases , according to the researcher Julie Palmer of the Boston University, according to a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
   Diet soft drinks, orange juice and grapefruit juice in moderation are not linked to a higher diabetes risk, because they may have a different metabolic effect.

   Fruit juices are not better than cola

   Researchers from the University of Glasgow's Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences observed that while one serving of apple juice typically contained 110kcal and 26g of sugar, a serving of cola contains 105kcal and 26.5g of sugar.

   Many packaged juices increase the risk of diabetes if consumed in excess. Dr Vijay Viswanathan, senior diabetologist at MV Diabetes Research Centre, said "Each carton contains concentrated sugar and simple carbohydrates which when consumed, especially after a meal, makes the blood sugar peak. We advise diabetics never to drink fruit juices and go for the whole fruit instead."

4. have a family history of diabetes
5. are older (over 55 years of age).
6. are over 45 years of age and are overweight or/and have high blood pressure.
7. are over 35 years of age and are from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, Pacific Island, Indian subcontient or Chinese cultural background.
8. are a woman who has given birth to a child over 4.5 kgs (9 lbs), or had gestational diabetes when pregnant, or had a condition known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Diabetes Type 1 is insulin-dependent diabetes which is usually starts in childhood (diabetes in children) or adolescence. The cause for type I diabetes is due to pancreas unability to produce insulin.

The exact cause of Type 1 diabetes is unknown. However, it is known that in majority of Type 1 diabetes cases, the body's own immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Once these cells are destroyed, they cannot make insulin again. So people with Type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin.

The cause of autoimmune system not working properly in such cases is still a subject of research.

No one knows for certain why this happens, the following are possible causes for Type 1 diabetes.

Risk factors & Causes of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) occurs in pregnant women who needs 2-3 times more insulin than normal and the body is unable to produce the needed insulin. It is diagnosed when higher than normal blood glucose levels first appear during pregnancy.

If gestational diabetes is not cared properly, it may result in problems such as miscarriage or a large baby.

You are at a greater risk if you:

• Are over 30 years of age
• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes.
• You have previously given birth to a large baby.
• Are overweight or obese
• Are from a Indigenous Australian or Torres Strait Islander background, Vietnamese, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Polynesian or Melanesian background

Can You Die From Diabetes ?