What Causes Diabetes?

What Causes Diabetes – Knowing the causes of diabetes, a healthy person can save himself from this disease, whereas a person suffering from this disease can understand these reasons, remove them, and take steps in the path of being healthy. In this article, we are going to give information about how many types of diabetes are there, the causes of diabetes, etc.

Causes of Diabetes

The primary cause of diabetes lies in the malfunctioning of insulin, a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar. When insulin fails to work effectively or the body can’t produce it adequately, blood sugar levels rise, leading to diabetes. Factors contributing to this include immune system issues (Type 1), lifestyle (Type 2), genetic predisposition, pregnancy-related issues (Gestational Diabetes), and specific health conditions.

This problem can be caused by several reasons, which we will learn in this article.

What Causes Diabetes

There is not only one reason for the occurrence of the problem of diabetes, but there can be many reasons, which have been divided into 4 parts so that they are not difficult to understand, explain treat, or find the cure of them. To understand the causes of diabetes, let’s understand its 4 types and their causes.

Causes of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a fault of the immune system, also known as an autoimmune response. In which the body mistakenly attacks itself and kills the beta cells of the pancreas that produce insulin.

No one can say absolutely anything about why this happens. According to the study done so far:-

  • Family history: Having a parent, brother or sister with type 1 diabetes.
  • Injury or removal of the pancreas from the body.
  • Some diseases or viral infections can also cause this.
  • In the United States, whites are more likely to develop type 1 diabetes than African Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans.

Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

Knowing the causes of type 2 diabetes as compared to type 1 diabetes and taking precautions in time, you can avoid the chances of getting type 2 diabetes. Let us know the reason for this:-

  • Lack of exercise or physical exertion.
  • Overweight.
  • Diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
  • If you are one of those babies whose mother had gestational diabetes when they were born, or you were born weighing more than 9 pounds.
  • You are a woman who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
  • It is more likely to occur in people 45 years of age or older.
  • A parent, brother or sister having type 2 diabetes.

If you are overweight or have low physical activity, you can prevent or prolong type 2 diabetes by losing weight, eating healthy, and adopting a simple, proven lifestyle like regular physical activity.

Causes of Prediabetes

The following reasons can increase the risk of prediabetes in your body:-

  • overweight
  • less than 8 hours of sleep
  • 45 years of age or older
  • a parent, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes
  • Being less physically active. The less active you are, the greater your risk of getting prediabetes.
  • Gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or giving birth to a baby who weighs more than 9 pounds
  • African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, or Alaska Native (some Pacific Islander and Asian Americans are also at higher risk).

You can prevent or reverse prediabetes if you are overweight, with little or no physical activity, and by adopting a simple, proven lifestyle such as losing weight, eating healthy, and getting regular physical activity.

Causes of Gestational Diabetes

Some women are at higher risk of developing gestational diabetes. Reasons for having gestational diabetes include the following:

  • Overweight and obesity.
  • Lack of physical activity.
  • Gestational diabetes or prediabetes during a previous pregnancy.
  • Above 25 years of age.
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
  • Family history of type 2 diabetes.
  • First giving birth to a baby who weighs more than 9 pounds (4.1 kg).
  • Ethnicity – Women who are Black, African American, Hispanic, American Indian and Asian American have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes usually goes away after giving birth, but later in life, you are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Not only this, but it also affects your child. Your child is more likely to be obese in childhood or adolescence, and also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Before becoming pregnant, you may be able to prevent gestational diabetes by losing weight if you are overweight, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular physical activity.

Some Important Questions and Their Answers

What causes Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes stems from an immune system error, where the body attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Family history, injuries to the pancreas, and certain diseases or infections can trigger it.


What are the triggers for Type 2 Diabetes?

Factors contributing to Type 2 Diabetes include insufficient physical activity, obesity, diseases like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, genetics (family history), being born with higher weight, or having a mother with gestational diabetes during pregnancy.


What contributes to Prediabetes?

Prediabetes risk factors encompass being overweight, inadequate sleep (less than 8 hours), age above 45, family history of Type 2 Diabetes, low physical activity, experiencing gestational diabetes during pregnancy, or giving birth to a heavier baby.


What causes Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes risk factors comprise obesity, sedentary lifestyle, prior history of gestational or prediabetes in previous pregnancies, age above 25, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), family history of Type 2 Diabetes, and birthing a baby over 9 pounds.


Can Type 1 Diabetes be prevented?

Presently, there’s no known way to prevent Type 1 Diabetes. It’s primarily influenced by genetic and immune-related factors.


How can I avoid developing Type 2 Diabetes?

Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, weight management, and a balanced diet, significantly reduces the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.


Is Prediabetes reversible?

Prediabetes can be reversed by embracing a healthier lifestyle, losing excess weight, consuming a nutritious diet, and engaging in regular physical activity.


Does Gestational Diabetes persist after pregnancy?

Typically, Gestational Diabetes disappears after childbirth. However, women who’ve had it are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life.


Can lifestyle changes prevent Gestational Diabetes?

Before conception, lifestyle modifications like weight loss (if overweight), a nutritious diet, and regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing Gestational Diabetes.


What ethnicities are more prone to Gestational Diabetes?

Women from ethnic backgrounds such as Black, African American, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian American are at higher risk of developing Gestational Diabetes.
Disclaimer

We hope you found this information about What Causes Diabetes, Causes of Type 1 Diabetes, Causes of Type 2 Diabetes, Causes of Prediabetes, and Causes of Gestational Diabetes, topic useful and worthy.