Diabetes is a disease that is characterized by high levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. The increased amount sugar in the blood is a result of either defects in the production of insulin or the way in which insulin is used by the body.

1. Causes of Diabetes

2. Diabetes is a disease that is
characterized by high levels of glucose,
or sugar, in the blood. The increased
amount sugar in the blood is a result of
either defects in the production of insulin
or the way in which insulin is used by the
body.
 Complications from diabetes can lead to
dozens of other medical conditions, such
as kidney failure, peripheral vascular
disease, blindness, neuropathy, gum
disease, or heart disease.

3. Type 1 diabetes is the result of a lack of
insulin production because of the
destruction of beta cells in the pancreas.
These beta cells are responsible for the
production of insulin that regulates blood
glucose.
Researchers have found that there is a
combination of genetic and
environmental factors that increase a
person's risk for developing Type 1
diabetes.

4. There is limited knowledge of the exact
cause of Type 1 diabetes but
researchers do know that the body
attacks the beta cells in the pancreas
because of a mistake made by the
immune system.

5. It is theorized that Type 1 diabetes is
caused when an environmental toxin or
pathogen triggers the immune system to
attack itself. Also, you may be at risk for
Type 1 diabetes if you suffer from other
hormonal problems such as
hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's or
Addison's disease.

6. Type 1 diabetes can happen at any age
but most often happens in children and
young adults. This type of diabetes
requires artificial insulin injections. This
is why Type 1 diabetes is often called
insulin-dependent diabetes.

7. Type 2 diabetes is also called non-
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or
adult onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is
caused when the body still produces
enough insulin but the body has become
resistant to the effects of the hormone.
This type of diabetes usually develops in
middle age and in overweight/obese
individuals. It is most common in people
who are older, obese, have a family
history of diabetes or have had
gestational diabetes.

8. There are specific risk factors that place
people in a higher risk category for
developing Type 2 diabetes. These risk
factors include sedentary lifestyle, stress,
infection, hereditary or inherited traits,
age, poor diet high in carbohydrates and
processed foods, obesity, hypertension
and high triglyceride and cholesterol
levels.

9. The main causes contributing to
developing Type 2 diabetes are high
carbohydrate diets and the sedentary
“coach potato” lifestyle, which often
leads to inflammation and obesity.
Inflammation and obesity which are
linked to increased insulin resistance in
the body and a poor functioning immune
system.

10. The third type of diabetes which affects
the glucose system is gestational
diabetes. This is a diabetic situation that
occurs in an individual who is pregnant
and is believed to be caused by hormonal
changes in weight gain.

11. When found early on in the pregnancy it
is easily treated so that it does not affect
the growth and development of the
infant. Most women who develop
gestational diabetes find that the
condition disappears after the delivery of
the baby. However, having gestational
diabetes puts a woman at greater risk for
developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

12. Women that develop gestational diabetes
can often have larger than normal
babies.
We’re talking 10 pounders here! Also,
babies born to women with gestational
diabetes tend to have low blood sugar
levels after birth (hypoglycemia).

13. Researchers and scientists continue to
search for the exact causing factors of
diabetes. The only reasonable treatment
options available for individuals at this
time are diet, exercise and medications.
Controlling your blood sugar levels is the
most important aspect of diabetes
management and care. The better
controlled your blood sugar levels are the
lower your chances of developing
diabetic complications are.

14. Find out the causes of diabetes and what
causes diabetes from:
http://thediabetesauthority.com