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.