What are the Causes of Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder in which the pancreas either doesn't produce or produces a little insulin or the produced insulin doesn't work effectively. The hormone insulin converts the body's sugar into energy. But when enough insulin is not produced, the level of glucose in the blood increases causing diabetes. The exact cause of diabetes is not known but there are certain factors that are considered to play an important role.
It is not yet known that why some people develop diabetes while others don't. What causes diabetes is unknown but there are many environmental and genetic factors that can cause diabetes. The cause of diabetes also depends upon the type of diabetes. Some of the factors that can cause diabetes or increase the risk of developing diabetes include:
Hereditary
Hereditary can play an important role in causing diabetes if it is known to run in families. It is considered to be a major cause of diabetes. People with a family history of diabetes are at an increased risk of developing diabetes. It is found that these people are 25 percent more prone to develop the disease.
If either of the parents have diabetes, the child is at a little risk of developing diabetes but if both of the parents have diabetes then the child is more likely to develop diabetes. In case of twins, either both of them may have diabetes or any one of them may have diabetes and other may not.
Age
Increased age is also believed to be one of the causes of diabetes. Though diabetes may occur at any age, the chance of developing diabetes increases with the increasing age. It is found that about 80 percent cases of diabetes occur after 45 years of age. This is because as the person grows older, he becomes less active and gains weight, which causes pancreatic dysfunction.
Stress
Sometimes even emotional stress can cause diabetes. A highly stressed life can lead to pancreatic insufficiency, which in turn can cause diabetes. Not only stress but other factors like anxiety, grief, tension or worry can also alter the sugar levels and cause diabetes.
Diet
Diet can also be considered to be a major cause of diabetes. Our body requires a proper balanced diet in order to produce energy for proper functioning. Therefore a poor or improper diet may be responsible for causing diabetes. Eating too much of carbohydrates, proteins or fats may prevent the pancreas from producing insulin, which causes increase in the blood sugar levels causing diabetes.
The risk of developing diabetes increases in the person, who takes high intake of refined carbohydrates (like bread, cakes, chocolates, biscuits and ice creams) and low intake of fibers.
Obesity
Obesity or being overweight is also one of the major causes of diabetes. An excess weight results in excess fat in the body, which causes an improper functioning of the insulin. Increased fat increases insulin resistance leading to high blood sugar level and causing diabetes.
Lack of Exercise
Lack of exercise can also be considered as a cause of diabetes. These days people don't prefer a physical work or exercises instead they prefer sitting on a chair for a long time. Lack of exercise and less activity are responsible for causing obesity, which in turn causes diabetes.
Viral Infections
Some virus infections may also cause diabetes in some people. Certain viruses like strephylococci or Coxsackie B virus may cause infection in pancreas leading to destruction of Beta cells. This results in improper functioning of insulin and thus increasing blood sugar levels.
These were the most common causes of diabetes. Some rare causes of diabetes include pregnancy, certain medications or diseases like pancreatitis.