Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which glucose (sugar) in the blood becomes too high. Glucose serves as the main source of energy, and insulin from the pancreas helps it get from the blood into the cells. Below is a calm breakdown of the causes of diabetes by type and the factors that increase risk.
What happens in the body with diabetes mellitus
The body produces glucose itself and gets it from food. Insulin carries it from the blood into the cells. With diabetes, the body cannot produce insulin, cannot use it fully — or both at once. Glucose stays in the blood and does not reach the cells, and over time its high level leads to serious health problems.
In type 1 diabetes, little or no insulin is produced. In type 2 diabetes — the most common — insulin is present, but cells respond poorly to it. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy, when the body lacks additional insulin.
What causes type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. Researchers believe the cause is a combination of genes and environmental factors that trigger this process. The disease can begin at any age, but more often starts in childhood; symptoms appear quickly and can be pronounced. There is no prevention for type 1 diabetes.
Causes of type 2 diabetes and risk factors
Type 2 diabetes is caused by several factors: lifestyle and genes. Lifestyle features include insufficient physical activity and overweight or obesity. The likelihood of the disease is increased by:
- age over 35 years — diabetes also occurs in young people, but is more common in middle-aged and older adults;
- family history of diabetes;
- prediabetes — glucose above normal but not high enough for a diagnosis;
- past gestational diabetes or giving birth to a child weighing 9 pounds (about 4 kg) or more;
- high blood pressure or polycystic ovary syndrome.
Symptoms in type 2 develop over years and can be mild: thirst and hunger, frequent urination, including at night, fatigue, blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the feet and hands, slow-healing wounds, unintentional weight loss.
Can diabetes come from sweets
Sweets are not named as a separate cause of diabetes. Among the causes of type 2 diabetes are insufficient physical activity, overweight or obesity, and genes.
Is diabetes mellitus inherited
Heredity plays a role in both main types, but it is not the only cause. In type 1, genes alone are not enough — environmental factors that trigger the destruction of cells are also needed; a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes may increase the likelihood. In type 2, a family history of diabetes is included in the list of risk factors, and genes are named as a cause alongside lifestyle.
What is known about diabetes prevention and when to see a doctor
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented with the same lifestyle changes used to control the disease: healthy eating, a healthy weight, regular physical activity. During pregnancy, gestational diabetes is usually screened for between 24 and 28 weeks; after childbirth it more often resolves, but the risk of type 2 diabetes later remains higher.
The diagnosis is confirmed by blood glucose tests, including the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. See a doctor for constant thirst, frequent urination, unexplained fatigue, blurred vision, poorly healing wounds, numbness in the feet and hands, or unexplained weight loss.
Diabetes itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. Call 103 or 112 if the condition is life-threatening — for example, with signs of stroke or heart attack.
This material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation.
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This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer