Top Causes of Type-1 & Type-2 Diabetes

Type 1 & 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when your body fails to consume and use glucose or blood sugar properly. While the exact causes of this inability are unknown, experts claim that environmental and genetic factors play a big role in the condition. Some of the known causes are:

Lack of insulin production:

The primary cause of type 1 diabetes is the lack of insulin produced by the body. This happens when the insulin-producing cells get destroyed or damaged and functioning. The body needs insulin to move glucose or blood sugar throughout the body. The inability to produce insulin leads to a lack of energy for the cells to feed on and causes a sugar deficiency in the blood.

Insulin resistance

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body can produce insulin but fails to use the glucose to fuel itself. This causes the pancreas to go into overdrive and create more insult to overcome this resistance which causes the cells to wear out. Due to this, the body slows down insulin production. The fluctuation in insulin production causes type 2 diabetes. 

Genetics and family history

Diabetes is a disease that usually gets passed down within families. Genetics can play a huge role in determining how likely you are to develop the condition. Statistics indicate that if one of your immediate family members (your parents, sibling, or grandparents) have diabetes, you should get yourself checked out too. 

Age

Your chances of developing type 2 diabetes increase with age, especially after you turn 45. But the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is increasing among children, and young adults due to other factors like reduced exercise, weight gain, and decreased muscle mass. Type 1 diabetes usually gets diagnosed by the age of 30.

Obesity

Excess body fat and fatty tissues can cause inflammation in the body, leading to insulin resistance. 

Poor diet

A bad diet that doesn’t provide enough nutrition and is high in fat, cholesterol, and calories can increase the body’s insulin resistance, contributing to type 2 diabetes. 

Lack of exercise

Lack of exercise causes the muscles to become rigid and resistant to insulin. This is why doctors recommend regular cardio and aerobic exercise to make the muscle tissues respond better to insulin and lower your diabetes risk.