Diabetes Causes

Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels, or the cells do not provide an appropriate response to insulin.

Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus produces little insulin or produces no insulin at all. The majority of type 1 diabetes mellitus occurs before the age of 30 years. The scientists believe that environmental factors (viral infections or nutritional factors) causes the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This occurs because of genetic predisposition. In type 1 diabetes mellitus, 90% of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells permanently damaged. The result is a severe shortage of insulin, so patients must get regular insulin from outside.

In type 2 diabetes mellitus, the pancreas still produces insulin. Sometimes the levels are higher than normal. However, the body develops immunity to its effects, resulting in relative insulin deficiency.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 can be in children and adults. But usually occurs after age 30 years. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus are obese. Because 80% -90% of patients are obese. This type of diabetes also tend to heredity.

Other causes of diabetes:
- High levels of corticosteroids
- Pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
- Medicines
- Poisons that affect the formation or the effects of insulin