Anyone can get diabetes. The consequences of diabetes are generally known. But how diabetes actually develops is often less known. Especially with type 1, it is not always clear.
There are a number of known causes that can cause diabetes. Excess weight, hereditary predisposition, reduced functioning of the pancreas and pregnancy are the main causes. The presence of antibodies, viral infections, stress and the use of certain medications can cause diabetes.
There are different causes for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes due to hereditary predisposition
A child whose father or mother has type 1 diabetes has an increased risk of developing it themselves. If both parents have it, the chance increases even more. In type 2 diabetes, there is often a genetic component that is common in certain ethnic groups.
Diabetes due to excess weight
In overweight people, the glucose level in the blood is no longer properly regulated. Due to excess weight, the cells become less sensitive to receiving insulin. The pancreas tries to compensate for this problem by producing more insulin. This causes type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes due to age
As you get older, the pancreas starts to work less well. The pancreas produces insulin. When this production decreases too much, diabetes develops.
Diabetes due to pregnancy
During pregnancy the body produces the pregnancy hormone HPL. This hormone can cause insensitivity of the maternal cells to insulin, and thus diabetes. This form of diabetes disappears after pregnancy.
Finally, there is Prediabetes. This is not a cause of diabetes, but it is a precursor. The sugar level in the blood is then higher than average, but not as high as with diabetes. With prediabetes there are usually no symptoms yet. Diabetes patients have often been in this preliminary stage for a short or long time before they actually develop diabetes. It is therefore an indication that diabetes may develop.