Diabetes is a condition marked by chronically high blood sugar levels. The high levels of glucose in the blood can lead to a number of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, suppression of the immune system, retina damage and problems with the nervous system. There are many different causes of diabetes.
Diabetes Types
There are two distinct kinds of diabetes that can affect people at different times in their lives and which have distinct mechanisms. Type 1 diabetes typically affects people early in life and is caused by the pancreas being destroyed. The pancreas is responsible for making insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is caused by an inability of the body to use insulin properly.
Type 1 Mechanism
Type 1 diabetes, the Mayo Clinic explains, is the result of a problem with the immune system. Sometimes the immune system becomes unusually active and attacks healthy cells in the human body, leading to what is known as autoimmune diseases. With type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. It is not known what causes this to happen, though sometimes this type of diabetes is triggered by an infection. Because this form of diabetes can run in families, it appears to have a genetic component as well.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is usually marked by a condition known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the result of muscle, fat and liver tissue not responding properly to insulin, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders reports. Over time, the pancreas then begins to produce less insulin. Although it is not known what causes insulin resistance, being overweight, physically inactive and being of certain ethnicities, such as African-American or Mexican-American, can increase a person's risk of developing this form of diabetes.
Diabetes and Pregnancy
Approximately 5 percent of all pregnant women will develop a temporary form of diabetes during pregnancy, which is known as gestational diabetes. Women who develop gestational diabetes will have had normal blood sugars before the pregnancy but develop insulin resistance while they are pregnant. Usually this does not cause any health problems for the baby if the mother keeps her blood sugar levels under control.
Other Causes
Sometimes diabetes can be the result of other conditions or the use of certain medications. For example, patients taking corticosteroids can develop type 2 diabetes, which will resolve once the medication is stopped. Certain medical conditions, such as Cushing's syndrome and an infection with cytomegalovirus, can also lead to diabetes.
