What Is the Reason for Diabetes?

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.

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