Diabetes Risk Factors and Complications
Diabetes of both types is caused by the insufficient production of insulin or abnormal response of the cells to it. As insulin is one of the key hormones participating in the process of metabolism, this results in serious consequences for the person’s health. Diabetes prevention methods should be used by people who have a reason to believe they are likely to develop this disorder.
As you have a meal, sugar molecules get into the bloodstream, raising the level of glucose in the blood. This is a signal for your pancreas to start producing insulin (this happens with the participation of beta cells) and secrete in into the bloodstream to provide for the cells to absorb glucose. Without insulin the cells are unable to get the nutrients they need, and the body starts looking for other sources of energy, which often leads to diabetes complications.
Type 1 diabetes (also called juvenile diabetes as it is likely to occur in people under 20) is characterized by very small or no production of insulin by the beta cells, which means glucose starts accumulating in the bloodstream instead of delivering energy for the cells to use. With high levels of glucose in the blood, the person feels constantly hungry, but is not able to get enough as the glucose is not acquired by the cells and they continue to starve for nutrients.
Besides, high levels of glucose cause frequent and abundant urination. The patient drinks a lot and urinates even more. In fact, this is a very typical diabetes symptom. Diabetes effects are detrimental to the patient’s health, so after 5-10 years of its presence all the beta cells get destroyed, which means the patient is unable to produce any insulin and entirely depends on the daily injections.
Type 2 diabetes is more likely to develop in people who are older than average and overweight. These people are also resistant to the insulin, which means the pancreas is producing insulin in the normal amounts but the body is unable to use it properly. So, although insulin is present in the bloodstream, the cells don’t recognize it (resist it) and glucose can’t get inside and provide the cells with the energy they need. This is when hyperglycemia takes place (abnormally large amount of sugar in the blood). As a reaction to these high amounts of sugar, the pancreas produces even more insulin, which makes the cells even more resistant, which presents a vicious circle.
Both types require the person to change his or her life completely to avoid diabetes complications and prevent it from progressing. Here are the most probable diabetes risk factors for both types of this disorder:
Type 1 diabetes risk factors:
§ Family history of diabetes or autoimmune diseases (Addison's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, pernicious anemia, Graves disease)
§ Mother who experienced pre-eclampsia
§ Being a late child
§ Viral infections in the early childhood (rubella, mumps, Coxsackie virus)
§ Being originally from Northern Europe or Mediterranean
§ Insufficient breast-feeding (controversial)
Type 2 diabetes risk factors:
§ Obesity, excessive fat around the waist (one of the two most likely diabetes risk factors, the other being genetic predisposition)
§ Blood relatives with type 2 diabetes
§ Being older than 45
§ High blood pressure
§ Malnutrition of the mother when pregnant
§ Low weight at birth
§ Lack of activity and high-fat diet
§ High levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood
§ Experience of polycystic ovary syndrome or gestational diabetes
§ Background: Hispanic American, African-American, or Native American
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