Understanding the causes of diabetes is an important pre-requisite in controlling the disease. The pancreas produces a hormone, insulin, which enables the cells of the body to absorb glucose in order to convert it into energy. The condition of diabetes comes about when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body fails to properly utilise its own insulin, or both. Consequently, glucose accumulates in the blood and this can lead to various complications.

Acute Complications include diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemia. Lack of adequate control of the disease may result in coma. Long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, several types of nerve damage, chronic kidney failure and retinal damage, which may eventually cause blindness. Microvascular damage may lead to erectile dysfunction and poor healing of wounds. The latter, especially of the feet, can result in gangrene, which may require amputation.

Diabetes is the most significant cause of blindness amongst non-elderly adults in the developed world. It is also the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults.

Of the many known types of diabetes, the three main types are:

* Type 1 diabetes Here the body fails to produce insulin. Between five and ten per cent of diabetics have this type. Most of these take insulin injections. In spite of this small percentage, the effects of type 2 can be more serious than other types of diabetes. It appears to be triggered by an infection, mainly viral, where the beta cells, which make insulin, are destroyed. Other possible causes are exposure to chemical toxins in food and exposure as a baby to cow’s milk. Some individuals have inherited a susceptibility to these triggers. Type 1 is sometimes known as juvenile diabetes as it is usually diagnosed in those younger than 30.

* Type 2 diabetes This results from a resistance to insulin, where the body cells fail to respond to insulin properly. This is the type that most people diagnosed with diabetes have. Both types 1 and 2 are at least partly inherited, more so if both parents have type 2 diabetes.

* Gestational Diabetes Women who have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, without ever having had diabetes before, are said to have gestational diabetes. About 4% of all pregnant women are affected. It may develop into type 2 or, rarely, type 1.

Less frequent causes of diabetes include:

* Certain drugs, some of which are toxic to the beta cells of the pancreas, and others which cause a rise in the blood sugar level.
* Any disease or liiness which causes damage or inflamation to the pancreas, thereby affecting its ability to produce insulin.
* Certain syndromes, such as Down’s, may cause a state of hyperglycemia, which could result in permanent diabetes.

The possibility of developing type 2 diabetes increases with:

* physical inactivity
* advancing age, and
* obesity

Myths About the Causes of Diabetes

A variety of myths has arisen over the years about what causes diabetes. Diabetes is not caused by eating sweets or the wrong types of food. This may, however, result in obesity and a consequent development of type 2 diabetes.

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Diabetes: Understanding the Causes and Complications