What causes diabetes

Wondering why people may get diabetes? So do the scientists of the world. While there isn’t a sure-fire explanation on why people can catch this chronic illness, there are many things to watch for.

Before researching the causes of diabetes, it is important to know about the different types of diabetes that are out there. Type I diabetes is also known as Juvenile diabetes due to the fact that it commonly strikes children and adolescents. Adults may also develop Type I diabetes, however, they face a much lower risk. In Type I diabetes, the beta cells located in the pancreas do not create insulin properly. Insulin is an agent which helps to transport the glucose from the foods we eat into the cells of the body, giving them needed fuel. In Type I diabetes patients that have had the disease for 5 to 10 years, the beta cells end up not functioning at all. Type I diabetes patients need to take regular doses of insulin from an external source to stay healthy. Type II diabetes often occurs in people that are overweight. As opposed to not being able to produce insulin, as is the case in Type I diabetes, Type II sufferers simply cannot process the insulin that their body produces. This can be due to the fact that high levels of fat may interfere with the way that the body processes insulin. People with this disease rely on oral medications to help keep their problem under control.

While it is not positively known why people may be afflicted with Type I diabetes, there are a number of possible reasons why one may suffer from the disease. Specific viruses and bacterial infections are a problem that can lead to diabetes. Also, exposure to certain chemical toxins in food can trigger a diabetic reaction. Certain studies show that exposure to cow’s milk as a very young infant can cause an autoimmune reaction that may be a reason for diabetes development. These are all merely theories, but they are the best leads we have as to why someone may develop this condition.

Researchers believe that certain conditions may cause a development of Type II diabetes as well. Just as with Type I diabetes, there is no sure-fire reason that we know diabetes develops. A lack of available insulin may be one of the causes of Type II. Also, a problem with the body’s insulin that forces it to be rejected by cells is one hypothesis. In addition, cells in the body’s receptors may fail to be stimulated by insulin. This is known as an insulin resistance and it can cause the pancreas to over-produce insulin, leading to an exhaustion of the beta cells.

One thing we do know is that as we age, our risk for developing Type II diabetes increases. Obesity and a lack of physical activity are also pointed to for risk factors for Type II. While these are no means a definitive reason why one may get any form of diabetes, they are the only associations with the disease that scientists have been able to make thus far. If you think you may be afflicted with diabetes, call your doctor immediately.