What usually causes diabetes?

Risk factors: The causes are not clearly known. There are certain factors which may lead to diabetes. Virus infections can lead to diabetes. If it runs in your family, you are obese, smoke cigarettes, had gestational diabetes or had a baby weighing 9 or more pounds, have impaired glucose tolerance, do not exercise regularly, low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides, high blood pressure you are at high risk.

Great Question: Diabetes is not simply genetic. We feel that there is partial inheritance, but it is more of a "runs in the family" condition instead of true genetics. In type i, you are born with the inability to produce adequate Insulin due to absence or lack of Insulin producing cells in the pancreas. In type 2, you slowly develop decrease in production of Insulin and cellular resistance to accept it.

Environment/inheri: Type 1 is probably due to infection in vulnerable pt causing destruction of Insulin cells in pancreas. Type 2 is usually due to obesity where you can't make enough Insulin to support the wt. This has gotten more complicated as studies show other problems with poor signaling to the liver to stop production of glucose. New diabetic meds target this issue.