Overview of Diabetes Causes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the body can't effectively use the insulin it produces or when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Hyperglycemia is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time it can lead to serious damage to many of the body's systems especially, the blood vessels and nerves. Glucose is very vital to your health because it is an important source of energy for the cells that make up your tissues and muscles. Sugar or glucose is also your brain's main source of fuel.

The actual cause of diabetes varies by its type. Regardless of type of diabetes you have, it leads to excess glucose in your blood. If there is too much glucose in your blood, it will cause serious health problems. Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes and potentially reversible diabetes conditions include gestational diabetes and prediabetes.

Type 1diabetes

This is characterized by deficient insulin production and requires daily administration of insulin. Neither the means to prevent type 1 diabetes nor the cause are known of it.

Type 2 diabetes

This results from the body's ineffective use of insulin. Most people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes and it is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity. This type of diabetes was seen only in adults but it is also now occurring in children too.

Prediabetes

In prediabetes, your cells become resistant to the action of insulin and your pancreas is unable to make enough of it to overcome this resistance. Sugar builds up in your bloodstream instead of moving into cells, where it is needed for energy.

Gestational diabetes

This diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is hyperglycemia with blood glucose values above normal but below those diagnostic of diabetes.  In the future, these women and possibly their children also are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Causes

●       Overweight

●       Family history

●       Age

●       High blood pressure

●       Polycystic ovary syndrom 

Symptoms

Some symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are:

●       Unexplained weight loss

●       Increased thirst

●       Frequent urination

●       Extreme hunger

●       Fatigue

●       Slow healing sores

●       Blurred vision

●       Irritability

●       Presence of ketones in the urine

●       Frequent infections such as skin infections and vaginal infections

Type 2 diabetes is the more common type which is seen in the majority of people and can develop at any age. It is more common in people older than 40. Type 1 diabetes also can develop at any age but it often appears during childhood or adolescence.

Health impact

Diabetes can change the blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, heart and nerves over time.

●       Diabetes is among the leading causes of kidney failure

●       Diabetic retinopathy is an important cause of blindness and is the cause of 2.6 % of global blindness

●       Adults with diabetes have a three-fold increased risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Prevention

●       Eat a healthy diet and avoid saturated fats and sugar

●       Avoid use of tobacco

●       Maintain a healthy body weight

●       Be physically active and do at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity on most days of the week.

Diagnosis

●       Regular test for analyzing blood sugar levels.

●       People with type 2 diabetes can be treated with oral medication but it may also require insulin. People with type 1 diabetes require insulin only.

●       Some cost-saving interventions include screening and treatment for retinopathy, blood lipid control, wearing appropriate footwear, and managing blood pressure.