The Numerous Causes of Diabetes

by Max Peykar

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.

Diabetes caused by an autoimmune reaction in the human body is classified as Type I. Pancreatic cells, which are responsible for producing insulin, are attacked by this condition, resulting in a major insulin deficiency. The causes of diabetes resulting in autoimmune disorders are yet to be fully identified, although some possible triggers are believed to be the essential cause. Infections caused by viruses and bacteria as well as chemical toxins in modern foods are linked to triggering diabetes. There's also the concern that very young infant's fed on cow's milk are at risk of developing diabetes type I, although the implications are yet to be clearly defined.

The adult onset diabetes, or type II diabetes, is triggered by insulin resistance. Simply said, while the pancreas continues to produce insulin, the supposed-receptors for the produced hormones fail to accept them. By doing so, the body is fooled into thinking it's not producing sufficient quantities of insulin. As a result, the body keeps producing more and more insulin, tiring out the pancreatic cells. This gradually leads to constantly damaged insulin production. The causes of diabetes type II are diverse, and are associated with different possibilities.

Obesity, old age and absence of regular exercise are some of the causes of diabetes of the type-II kind. Other causes include pregnancy, side effects of strong medicines, and maladies affecting the pancreas, like pancreatitis. However, diabetes during pregnancy is a short-term problem and is often termed gestational diabetes.

Interestingly, most of the causes of diabetes that we've heard from the generations before are simply myths. For instance, eating too much sugar does not cause diabetes. However, it does lead to obesity and that can trigger diabetes type II. Even if you eat loads of sweets every day, if you are sufficiently physically active to burn it all off, then you are unlikely to develop diabetes.

Stress is not considered to be one of the causes of diabetes , although it can affect the functioning of the autoimmune system, leading to Type-I diabetes as an end result. Stress also worsens existing conditions of diabetes.

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.

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