What Causes Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus or Diabetes as it is commonly known is becoming one of the major diseases in the world today. In the US alone more than 16 million people are suffering with this condition, and this number is increasing by the day. Considering such a huge population being affected, you may be curious to know the causes and factors leading to this disease. As it happens, there are many known factors that cause this illness with a lot of them related to the lifestyle choices we make, hence it is not surprising that it is termed as a ‘Lifestyle Disease’.

The main types of diabetes being: Type 1 Diabetes which commonly affects men, while being genetic as well. Patients are usually affected by this type of Diabetes as their pancreas stops producing insulin in the body. The other type of diabetes is the Type 2 Diabetes, which is exactly the opposite of type 1, wherein the body does produce insulin, but the body does not effectively use it. This type of diabetes is called non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes as this usually develops in the middle age.

One can categorize the major causes for diabetes as follows:

• Hereditary: This is one of the factors that effect a good proportion of people affected by diabetes. If either one of the parents or both are effected by diabetes the chances of their offspring getting the same is quite high.
• Age: Age is another factor that one can say being contributor to this disease. Though in the recent past there are reports that even infants are incurring this disease, but still the primary sufferers of this disease are the people in the middle age group and older. The resultant of course is of the lifestyle choices one makes in their life, giving credence to the age old saying: what you sow is what you reap.
• Malnutrition Related Diabetes: Diabetes is not just a rich man’s disease as is the popular notion, even improper intake of protein and fiber or higher intake of refined products also are contributing factors.
• Obesity: Obesity or excess body weight is one of the major contributors for people suffering with diabetes. In other words, a person who keeps a check on his weight has far lesser chances of being affected than some one who is overweight
• Stress: Though quite a recent phenomenon but is becoming a major reason for increase in cases of diabetes. Studies have shown that physical injury or an emotional disturbance is the initial reason for triggering diabetes.
• Hypertension: Studies have revealed that people suffering from hypertension have higher probability of being affected by diabetes. Thus, it’s better that one keep a check on their blood pressure and sugar levels constantly.

These are but a few reasons for the diabetes, and it’s better to have knowledge about the same, but having said that there is no leaving away from the fact that constant exercise and making good lifestyle choices help in avoiding diabetes for good.

More than 16 million people are suffering from diabetes in the US today and it is turning out to be increasingly not just a disease affecting the middle aged. So what are the symptoms or what are the warning signs for diabetes?

Some of the warning signals for diabetes are:

• Polyuria: or excess urination is one of the first signs of diabetes. The primary reason for this is the increased level of glucose in the blood. The glucose level rises primarily due to a lack of insulin, resulting in the kidneys being unable to filter glucose back to blood thus ending up with excess of water and hence this condition.
• Polydipsia: or increased thirst or increased fluid intake sometimes seeming as if it’s an unquenchable thirst. A result of the above condition as the blood draws excess water ending up with the body needing more water and the sufferer feeling thirsty.
• Sudden weight loss:  A condition more common in type 1 diabetes is where the body starts to break down the muscle cells as an energy source after the pancreas has stopped producing enough insulin.
• Fatigue or weakness: Due to lack of insulin, the body ends up circulating glucose drawn from food into the blood stream but the same is not accepted by the cells due to which they are energy starved leading to the body feeling weak.

 Other symptoms: blurred vision, dry and itchy skin, frequent infections, cuts or bruises which take longer than usual to heal. All are possible signs of diabetes and one should get in touch with a doctor if the above symptoms are observed, because as they say precaution is better than cure.

Diabetes is turning out to be undoubtedly one of the higher risk diseases effecting mankind today. A condition that is resultant of auto immune disorder, which can no longer be described as a rich man’s disease, even though one of the major factor contributing to its growth is the lifestyle choices one makes in our lives.

There are 3 types of diabetes which are as follows:

• Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a situation which arises when the pancreas stops producing insulin, leading to deficiency of insulin. Even though there is no known preventive measure that can be taken to avoid this type of diabetes, people affected by this can lead a normal healthy life with just a few precautions.

·        Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a condition caused by insulin resistance or the body having reduced usage of insulin resulting in the blood having high levels of sugar.

·        Gestational diabetes is comparable with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, in many of the aspects, and this occurs due to a combination of inadequate insulin secretion and the body’s responsiveness to the same. This occurs in 2-5% of pregnancies which tends to improve or disappear totally after delivery.

Even though primarily diabetes is broadly classified into type 1 and type 2, as more and more study is being done on this subject, there are more types of diabetes being discovered. Such as, the condition where the body tissue receptors stop responding to insulin even when levels are normal. Thus, as research continues more and more types and categorization shall be revealed.

The main cause for diabetes is an excess amount of sugar (glucose) in blood cells. With this disease, the body’s cells become locked and blood sugar levels therefore increase. Well, high blood sugar is not something that you notice by looking at yourself in the mirror. Therefore, it is advisable to know the symptoms of high blood sugar. Some of the common symptoms of diabetes are:

·        Increased Thirst and Urination: – This is the common symptom of a diabetes patient. People commonly urinate more than usual. More urination makes people thirstier.

·        Frequently Tired: – Insulin reduces the sugar amount and converts it into energy. If you feel tiredness normally after having your meals then it is a symptom of diabetes

·        Suddenly Losing weight: – When your body does not get energy from sugar (glucose) then it tries to gain it from other sources. Therefore, many people suffering from diabetes tend to lose weight even if they are not trying to. This usually happens with fat people who lose their weight without any effort.

·        Blurry Vision, Dry and Itchy Skin: – Diabetes increases the sugar level in the blood which affects the tissues of the human body, including your eye lenses. The reduction in fluids can affect your vision and leads to dry and itchy skin.

·        Late wounds healing: – It may take long time to heal the wounds and sores of a diabetic patient.

If you feel that you are having any of the above given symptoms, on a regular basis, then you must visit a doctor immediately. Ignoring any of these symptoms can be serious for your long term health.