![There are different reasons and causes of diabetes type 1 and type 2, which can include an autoimmune condition, family history, viruses, age, ethnicity, being overweight/obese, sedentary lifestyle, and others.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/blood-sugar-test-diabetes-health-table.jpg?output-quality=75)
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the body either produces insufficient or no insulin, or doesn’t use insulin properly causing blood sugar (glucose) levels to rise (hyperglycemia). Glucose is the body’s main source of energy, and the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin that helps convert glucose from the food you eat into energy the body uses.
What Causes Diabetes?
Diabetes occurs for different reasons. There are 3 main types of diabetes each with different causes and risk factors:
- Type 1 diabetes (previously called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes) is caused by an autoimmune reaction in which the body attacks itself and destroys beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin so little to no insulin is produced by the pancreas.
- Type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet or lifestyle factors
- It is an autoimmune condition, which means it is chronic and will need to be managed for the rest of your life
- It does not go away on its own
Risk factors for developing type 1 diabetes include:
- Genetics/family history
- Triggers, such as viruses
- Age: more likely to occur in children, teens, and young adults, though it can develop at any age
- Ethnicity: Caucasians are more likely to develop type 1 diabetes than African Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans
Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, is caused by several factors, including genetics and lifestyle factors such as being overweight or obese and physical inactivity.
- In type 2 diabetes the body doesn’t use insulin properly causing blood sugar levels to rise
- It may go away with proper diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and lifestyle changes
- Factors that can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes include:
- Age over 45 years
- High blood pressure
- History of gestational diabetes
- Giving birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
- History of heart disease or stroke
- Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol or high triglycerides
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Depression
The cause of gestational diabetes is unknown, and it may be difficult to predict who will develop the condition when they become pregnant.
- Disrupts the way the body uses sugar (glucose) during pregnancy
- Occurs because pregnancy increases the body's need for insulin, but the body cannot always make enough
- After delivery, gestational diabetes usually goes away and blood sugar levels will return to normal
- Risk factors for developing gestational diabetes include:
- Age over 25 years
- Overweight/obesity
- Ethnicity: Hispanic-Americans, African-Americans, Native Americans, South or East Asians, or Pacific Islanders
- Family history of diabetes
- Prior gestational diabetes during pregnancy
What Are Symptoms of Diabetes?
Symptoms of diabetes include:
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger, even though people are eating
- Increased urination
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Frequent infections
- Sores/cuts/bruises that do not heal
- Darkened skin, often in the armpits and neck
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in the feet or hands (more common in type 2)
- Unexplained weight loss (more common in type 1)
How Is Diabetes Diagnosed?
Diabetes is diagnosed with the following tests:
- A1C test
- Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test
- Glucose challenge test
- Random plasma glucose (RPG) test
- Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
What Is the Treatment for Diabetes?
Diabetes is treated with lifestyle modifications and medications when needed.
Lifestyle changes to manage diabetes include:
- Check blood glucose levels daily
- Manage A1C (average blood glucose level over the past 3 months)
- Maintain healthy cholesterol levels
- Keep blood pressure in check
- Follow a diabetes meal plan as recommended by your doctor or nutritionist
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean poultry and fish, and low-fat dairy
- Drink plenty of water
- Choose foods that are low-calorie, low-fat, low-sugar, and low-salt
- Don’t smoke
- Exercise regularly
- Get adequate sleep
- Manage stress/practice relaxation techniques
- Take prescribed diabetes medications
Medications used to treat diabetes include:
- Insulin
- Meglitinides
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Thiazolidinediones
- DPP- 4 Inhibitors
- Sulfonylureas
- Biguanides
- Dopamine receptor agonists
- Bile acid sequestrants
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- GLP-1 receptor agonists
- Amylin analog
- Combination medicines, which may be made up of more than one medication in the above classes
- Women with gestational diabetes may need insulin or metformin
If lifestyle changes and medications do not help control diabetes, other treatments may include:
- Weight-loss surgery (bariatric surgery) for some patients who are obese
- Artificial pancreas
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes
https://www.fda.gov/media/119148/download
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type1.html
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/gestational-diabetes-beyond-the-basics?search=Gestational%20Diabetes%5C&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=2