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Where Does Diabetes Come From?

There are several possible sources of diabetes, depending on the type of diabetes, which is a disease where the body cannot produce insulin properly and therefore food cannot be turned into energy. Type 1 Diabetes is when a lack of insulin is produced by the body. Type 2 Diabetes is when the insulin in the body does not work properly or fails to be stimulated.

  1. Statistics

    • According to the American Diabetes Association, 23 million in the United States have diabetes and approximately 1/3 of diabetics are unaware that they cannot produce insulin properly. An additional 57 million have pre-diabetes that puts them at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. Undiagnosed and untreated diabetes can damage organs, such as the heart, eyes, kidneys and pancreas.

    Autoimmune

    • Autoimmune diseases often affect the function of the pancreas as the human body begins to attack itself. This can lower the function of the pancreas and decrease its ability to process insulin. If you are suspected of having Type 1 Diabetes, a physician may consider the possibility of an autoimmune disease and monitor your symptoms closely for changes.

    Blood Pressure

    • Those who have high blood pressure either have undiagnosed diabetes or it may play a role in developing the disease. Decreasing risk factors, such as poor nutrition and lack of exercise can ultimately reduce a person's blood pressure and her risks for developing diabetes.

    Diet

    • Diet can be a contributing factor in a person developing diabetes. If a person is already at risk, a high sugar or high fat diet can increase his chances of having diabetes. By lowering fat content, decreasing alcohol consumption and lowering sugar content, the body has the ability to process nutrients properly and the pancreas and other organs are not put under additional strain.

    Heredity

    • Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have strong genetic links. If there is a family history of diabetes, it increases chances of other family members developing diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, a family history of diabetes can increase your predisposition to the disease, but there is also a secondary factor, such as environment which contributes to the risk of diabetes.

    Weight

    • Those who are overweight have been found to be at higher risk for developing diabetes. If you have a Body Mass Index that is 20 percent over what the average is for your height, weight and age, it increases the risk factor. Losing weight can help lower your glucose level while providing incentive to cutting back on sweets and fatty foods. Eating regular meals with smaller portions will help both weight and blood sugar level.

    Medication

    • Some medications or drugs, such as steroids can increase the blood sugar level in the body. Diuretics reduce the function of the pancreas and can increase a person's vulnerability to diabetes. Reducing reliance on such medications altogether can decrease the chance of having diabetes. However, if these drugs are used regularly, the damage to the pancreas and its effects on the ability to produce insulin normally may be permanent.

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