The main causes of diabetes largely depend on the type of diabetes you have. There are three common types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. While their causes may vary, the symptoms are similar between the three types of diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing sores and wounds, weight loss, and numbness in the upper and lower extremities.
Here are the main causes of diabetes:
Causes of Type 1 Diabetes
This type of diabetes is an autoimmune condition and is either congenital or develops later on in childhood or adulthood after something triggers it. With type 1 diabetes, your immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas, which renders the organ unable to produce enough insulin for your body. Your body is left with little or no insulin, which it needs for normal metabolic function. The condition may be triggered by a viral or bacterial infection, toxins, or a genetic predisposition.
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
Commonly described as a lifestyle disease, type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. Its main causes are lifestyle factors, such as smoking, a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. An overweight body and a sedentary lifestyle cause a resistance to insulin, which affects normal metabolic function. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop slowly, sometimes taking years to fully form.
The earliest symptoms of type 2 diabetes are often subtle, which is why many people with the condition do not know they have it. There is a strong genetic component to type 2 diabetes. If someone in your family has been diagnosed with the condition, it means you are at a higher risk of developing it.
Gestational Diabetes Causes
This type of diabetes is almost a variant of type 2 diabetes. A pregnant woman gains weight, which immediately puts her at risk of developing diabetes, especially if it runs in her family. If your mother had gestational diabetes while carrying you, you may also get it during pregnancy. Excessive weight gain due to a large baby is also a factor.
Gestational diabetes also has a hormonal component. The placenta produces hormones that contribute to insulin resistance, and if the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to overcome this issue, it can lead to gestational diabetes.
Very rarely does diabetes develop due to other health conditions, such as genetic mutations, hormonal diseases, and medication. If you are concerned about your diabetes risk, a primary care doctor is the health care provider that can help you with diabetes prevention. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, effective disease management and support are necessary, which you can also get from your primary care provider.
Get Help With Preventing and Managing Diabetes
At Star Medical Associates, we take your health very seriously. We provide disease management, prevention, and wellness services to our patients who want to be in their best health.
Dr. Rani Anbarasu’s skilled and caring approach makes her a leading primary care provider in Texas. To schedule a consultation, call Star Medical Associates at (940) 382-6900 in Denton, Texas, or (469) 301-2300 in Frisco. You can also send an appointment request online.
