Diabetes - Types Of Diabetes And Causes

Introduction

Diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce any or enough insulin, leading to an excess of sugar in the blood. Insulin, which
is produced by the pancreas, is a hormone that helps the cells of the body use the glucose (sugar) in food. Cells need this energy in order to function properly.

Causes of Diabetes

Serum lipids and lipoproteins : High triglyceride and cholesterol level in the blood are related to high blood sugars, in some cases it had been studied that risk are involved even with low HDL levels in circulating blood.

Insulin Resistance.- Scientists are still searching for the causes of insulin resistance, but they have identified two possibilities. The first could be a defect in insulin receptors on cells. Like an appliance that needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet, insulin has to bind to a receptor to function. Several things can go wrong with receptors. There may not be enough receptors for insulin to bind to, or a defect in the receptors may prevent insulin from binding.

Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disorder characterized in affected organs by a type of inflammation called granulomas (a mass or nodule of chronically inflamed tissue). What causes this inflammation is unknown. Sarcoidosis can occur in any part of the central or peripheral nervous system. When sarcoidosis affects the central nervous system, various cranial nerves can be damaged and may paralyze specific areas of the body. The most common is a facial palsy causing part of the face to droop, which may be temporary or permanent, or it may recur.

Diabetes mellitus is the third largest killer in the US, and is caused by a defect in the production of insulin by the pancreas. Without insulin, the body cannot utilize glucose, which is an important blood sugar. A blood glucose level above 180mg percent causes excess sugar to spill over in the urine and make it sweet. Some people can develop diabetes mellitus as a result of stress, obesity, or pregnancy. Certain medicinal drugs can also cause it: oral contraceptives, adrenal corticosteroids, phenytoin, or thiazide diuretics. A diet high in sugar and white flour can lead to diabetes.

Types of Diabetes

Neurogenic DI also known as central, hypothalamic, pituitary or neurohypophyseal is caused by a deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone, vasopressin.

Type 1 diabetes is sometimes called insulin-dependent, immune-mediated or juvenile-onset diabetes. It is caused by an auto-immune reaction where the body’s defence system attacks the insulin-producing cells. The reason why this occurs is not fully understood. People with type 1 diabetes produce very little or no insulin. The disease can affect people of any age, but usually occurs in children or young adults

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In this type of diabetes, the pancreas still produces insulin, but it does not produce enough or it has trouble using it. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults over 35 years old, and especially in those who are overweight. But recently type 2 diabetes has begun to appear more in children and teenagers, as more and more of them are becoming overweight. Symptoms may include fatigue or nausea, frequent urination, unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds or sores. Some people have no symptoms.

Pre-Diabetes - Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) - is diagnosed when the blood glucose level that is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.