Diabetes Diseases and Conditions

Understanding Diabetes Signs and Symptoms

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Main Causes of Diabetes

There are many different possible causes of diabetes, most of which can be prevented. Type 1 diabetes specifically occurs when the immune system attacks insulin for no discernible reason. It’s believed that this type of diabetes is caused by various environmental factors or genes that could bring about the diabetes. Research is still ongoing to determine the causes of type 1 diabetes.

As for type 2 diabetes, it’s usually clear what causes this disease to develop. While your genes may place you at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the main causes pertain to lifestyle decisions. For instance, being overweight and physically inactive may cause you to suffer from diabetes. When you’re overweight, your body may start to become resistant to insulin, which is the primary reason that people develop type 2 diabetes.

Keep in mind that your pancreas will start to produce much more insulin soon after the body has become resistant to insulin. However, the pancreas eventually won’t be able to meet the high demand, which is why it’s important to catch this disease early. If you have a family history of diabetes, you’re at a higher risk of developing this disease. Some of the other causes of diabetes include genetic mutations, the development of hormonal diseases, and a variety of different medicines like anti-seizure drugs or psychiatric drugs. If the pancreas becomes damaged from pancreatitis or needs to be removed, you’ll have a much higher risk of suffering from this condition.