Understanding the causes of Diabetes, so you can keep your health at optimal levels…
We hear so much about blood sugar issues these days, it is common for people to be curious about the causes of diabetes, its symptoms, etc. Simply put, there is no one specific cause of diabetes in every patient. Being diagnosed with the disease typically depends on your family history, ethnicity, overall health, genetic makeup, environmental factors, trigger, etc. Each type of diabetes, such as Type 1, Type 2, gestational diabetes, etc. has different causes, some of which depend specifically on the individual. With the American Diabetes Association estimating almost 30 million people in America having the disease, it is wise to educate yourself on the types of diabetes and which symptoms to be on the lookout for. Now, let’s take a closer look at the causes of diabetes for different types of the disease:
Type 1 Diabetes –
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, you may already know this is caused by the destruction of cells in the pancreas by one’s immune system. Because of this destruction, the patient does not have enough insulin for the body to function normally. In this type of diabetes, the cause is autoimmune in nature because the person’s body does not recognize its own cells and begins to attack them. In addition to this being an autoimmune issue, it is believed Type 1 diabetes has a genetic component to it as well.
Symptoms for Type 1 diabetes can include feeling very thirsty, urinating often, weight loss, fatigue, and vision problems.
Type 2 Diabetes –
When it comes to diabetes causes and symptoms for Type 2, it is important to know that this type of the disease usually has multiple causes behind a diagnosis. The most commonly seen cause is a family history of Type 2, but being overweight, age, eating poorly, and being inactive, pregnant or ill can also be risk factors.
Symptoms for Type 2 diabetes are similar to symptoms for Type 1 such as frequent thirst and urination, feeling tired, losing weight, feeling more hungry than usual, getting frequent infections, and noticing patches of dark skin in folds or creases on the body.
Gestational Diabetes –
Have you ever wondered what causes diabetes during pregnancy? Known as gestational diabetes, it is believed risk factors such as being overweight, having a family history of gestational diabetes, already being diagnosed with PCOS, and carrying a baby that weighs over 9 pounds can increase one’s chance of developing this type of the disease. In addition, researchers now believe certain ethnic groups have a higher chance of developing gestational diabetes over others.
For many pregnant women, symptoms of gestational diabetes will not be noticed. Doctors will screen pregnant patients – typically near the 24th week of pregnancy – to make sure this disease process is not occurring. In some instances, a woman with this disease may feel especially thirsty or notice an increase in urination.
Now that you know a little more about diabetes causes and symptoms, the next step would be to educate yourself on ways to prevent the disease or how to improve your blood sugar if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. Consider learning more about exercising for diabetes, diets for diabetics, and which are some of the best and worst food choices when meal planning. You can find all of this information and more at www.BetterHealthKare.com