More than 20 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes in the United States. This is a serious medical condition that affects both children and adults; male and female. There are various factors that could cause you to develop diabetes. You will need to consult with a doctor immediately to receive treatment options and advice.

 Diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, the insulin hormone is not assisting your body in the transformation of nutrients, such as sugar, into energy. Your sugar levels will increase, and you will more than likely suffer from diabetes Type 1 or Type 2.

Types of Diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, your body may produce little amounts of insulin, or no insulin at all. If you have Type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar cells have become resistant to insulin altogether.

If you have Type 1 diabetes, the causes are generally due to environmental factors, in addition to genetic susceptibility.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by various factors, including being overweight, as well as genetic and environmental factors.

Hereditary Factors

There are a variety issues that lead to diabetes. If your family has a history of diabetes, you could be at risk. Genetic factors are known to increase your odds of developing diabetes. If your family has a history of Type 2 diabetes, you are 5 to 10 times likely to develop the disease as well. This discredits the myth that only obese individuals develop Type 2 diabetes.

You should inform your doctor immediately if you are having diabetes symptoms, especially if any of your immediate relatives have a history of obesity, high blood pressure, or hypertension.

The genes that put you at risk for Type 1 diabetes are DR4 and DR3. If you carry these genes you could be at a higher risk for diabetes.

Remember that even if your family has no history of diabetes, you could still develop the disease.

Food

The types of food that you eat can put you at risk of developing diabetes. The food that you eat is transformed into energy, and this energy is infused throughout the bloodstream in the form of glucose. The glucose needs to be supplied to your cells then your pancreas releases insulin. If you do not eat a well-balanced diet, you will interrupt this process, which could lead to diabetes.

You should avoid foods that are high in fat because they could increase insulin resistance. Too much sugar could cause your blood sugar levels to increase.

Processed meats could cause diabetes, in addition to fatty foods. The gene in your body that handles the insulin secretion can be damaged because of fatty foods. Studies show that if you increase your intake of red meat, you have a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to USA Today. Some of the processed meats and fatty foods that could cause diabetes include:

• Hot Dogs
• Bacon
• Hamburgers

Weight

If you are obese, you are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Being overweight is the most common cause of Type 2 diabetes. Studies show that being obese and not receiving enough exercise are the reasons that 95 percent of Americans have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Viral Infection

Certain viral infections could put you at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. Some of the viral infections that have caused diabetes include:

• Mumps Virus
• Rubella Virus
• Rotavirus
• Cytomegalovirus
• Coxsackievirus
• Other Enterovirus Infections

Alcohol Intake

Believe it or not, the amount of alcohol you drink could lead to diabetes. If you are going to drink alcoholic beverages, you should only drink when your glucose levels are under control. You should also opt to consume drink mixers that are low in calories, or calorie-free.

Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, you could be at risk for gestational diabetes. This type of diabetes affects approximately five percent of women who are pregnant.

Your placenta will produce hormones in order to sustain your pregnancy. The hormones that your body produces could be resistant to insulin. The further along you are in your pregnancy – typically the second and third trimesters – the more difficult it is for the insulin hormone to transform sugars and nutrients into energy.

Your pancreas would normally step in to produce extra insulin, but when your pancreas cannot keep up, you have a high chance of developing gestational diabetes.

Other Medical Conditions

There are other medical conditions that could lead to diabetes. Some of those medical conditions are:

• Acromegaly
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
• Hyperthyroidism
• High Cholesterol
• Hypertension
• Pheochromocytoma
• Cushing’s Syndrome

These medical conditions have been known to offset diabetes.

Consult with a Doctor

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that has been known to affect millions of people in the United States, Europe, and other countries around the world. Millions of individuals are living with diabetes, but they have not been diagnosed. If you have any symptoms of diabetes you should consult with a doctor immediately for further testing. Failing to be diagnosed and treated for diabetes could lead to strokes, blindness, and death.

If you want more information on diabetes symptoms, click here

References

“Viral Trigger for Type 1 Diabetes. Pros and Cons.” American Diabetes Association. Retrieved from http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/57/11/2863.full. Accessed on August 16, 2013.

“Red-meat intake linked to increased risk of diabetes.” USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/17/diabetes-red-meat-intake/2431405/. Accessed on August 19, 2013.