What causes Diabetes? The causes of diabetes vary significantly from case to case, and doctors are still identifying new causes of diabetes each year. However, there are a number of known factors which may influence or cause the development of diabetes, and these are important to take into consideration when making daily lifestyle choices. You can take action to prevent diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that has a small genetic link, tending to be more commonly found in men. Type 1 diabetes develops when the cells inside the pancreas that are supposed to produce insulin are attacked by the immune system, causing the body to function with an insulin deficiency. Certain viral infections contracted during childhood or youth can be severe enough to cause this immune system malfunction, and cause diabetes later.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is generally caused by a genetic predisposition toward the disease, which means that parents may pass the gene that causes type 2 diabetes onto their children. It is possible to reduce the complications that arise from type 2 diabetes, or even postpone its onset indefinitely, by making wise lifestyle choices that prevent the disease from actually developing. This includes avoiding high blood pressure, staying away from a diet composed of high-fat foods and excessive alcohol consumption, staying active, and taking care not to become medically overweight.

Certain ethnic groups are also more genetically predisposed toward the development of type 2 diabetes. These groups include, but are not limited to, African Americans, Native American, Hispanic and Japanese Americans.

Type 2 diabetes may also develop with age, regardless of one's attempts to stave it off. In some cases, family genetics simply dictate that type 2 diabetes will become onset as one gets older, and the risk for this tends to increase significantly at around 45 years old, and again after 65.