Is Type 1 Diabetes Genetic/hereditary? | Causes & Treatment - Dlife
When left uncontrolled, high blood sugar can also cause other complications, affecting the eyes, nerves, kidneys, and cardiovascular system.[1], [4] The difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is that in type 1, the body does not produce insulin at all; this is why it is called insulin dependent diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin but the cells are not able to utilize the insulin produced; this is why it is commonly referred to as insulin resistant diabetes. Over time, the bodys cells can develop insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes, too.[1],[5] Diabetes is diagnosed by testing the level of blood sugar or A1C (glycated hemoglobin). An A1C reading measures the three-month average plasma glucose concentration in the blood. Type 1 diabetes can be distinguished from type 2 by testing for the presence of autoantibodies (a type of protein produced by an individuals immune system directed against one or more of the individuals own proteins).[6],[7] When specific autoantibodies are found, a doctor can make the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a rarer form of diabetes than type 2. Type 1 diabetes accounts for only five to 10 percent of all diabetes cases. Although it can occur at any age, it is more common in children and adolescents less than 15 years of age. This is why the condition was previously coined juvenile diabetes.[8],[9] The occurrence is similar in men and women, although in children it is more common in girls. Type 1 diabetes most commonly occurs during puberty. Because girls typically enter puberty earlier than boys, the condition is often diagnosed earlier in girls. After puberty, the incidence rate drops in women but continues to occur in men between the ages of 29 and 35. More than 500,000 children are currently livin Continue reading >>
Lifestyle Causes Of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
A number of lifestyle factors are known to be important to the development of diabetes mellitus type 2 including: obesity, physical activity, diet, stress, and urbanization.[1] Excess body fat underlies 64% of cases of diabetes in men and 77% of cases in women.[2] A number of dietary factors such as sugar sweetened drinks[3][4] and the type of fat in the diet appear to play a role.[5] In one study, those who had high levels of physical activity, a healthy diet, did not smoke, and consumed alcohol in moderation had an 82% lower rate of diabetes. When a normal weight was included, the rate was 89% lower. In this study, a healthy diet was defined as one high in fiber, with a high polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio, lower trans fats consumption, and a lower mean glycemic index.[6] Dietary[edit] The composition of dietary fat intake is linked to diabetes risk; decreasing consumption of saturated fats and trans fatty acids while replacing them with unsaturated fats may decrease the risk.[5][7] Sugar sweetened drinks appear to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes both through their role in obesity and potentially through a direct effect.[3][4] Obesity[edit] Obesity has been found to contribute to approximately 55% of cases of type 2 diabetes;[8] chronic obesity leads to increased insulin resistance that can develop into type 2 diabetes, most likely because adipose tissue (especially that in the abdomen around internal organs) is a source of several chemical signals, hormones and cytokines, to other tissues. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα may activate the NF-κB pathway which has been linked to the development of insulin resistance.[9] Gene expression promoted by a diet of fat and glucose, as well as high levels of inflammation related cytokines found in the obese, ca Continue reading >>
Environmental Triggers And Determinants Of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is perceived as a chronic immune-mediated disease with a subclinical prodromal period characterized by selective loss of insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreatic islets in genetically susceptible subjects. A series of evidence supports a critical role of exogenous factors in the development of type 1 diabetes, such as 1) the fact that <10% of individuals with HLA-conferred diabetes susceptibility do progress to clinical disease, 2) a pairwise concordance of type 1 diabetes of <40% among monozygotic twins, 3) a more than 10-fold difference in the disease incidence among Caucasians living in Europe, 4) a several-fold increase in the incidence over the last 50 years, and 5) migration studies indicating that the disease incidence has increased in population groups who have moved from a low-incidence to a high-incidence region. This article discusses the trigger-booster hypothesis claiming that the diabetic disease process is triggered by an exogenous factor with definite seasonal variation and driven by one or several other environmental determinants. In addition, there are a series of modifying factors affecting the fate and pace of the process. Accordingly, progression to clinical type 1 diabetes typically requires the unfortunate combination of genetic disease susceptibility, a diabetogenic trigger, and a high exposure to a driving antigen. Clinical type 1 diabetes represents end-stage insulitis, and it has been estimated that at the time of diagnosis, only 10–20% of the insulin-producing β-cells are still functioning. Environmental factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes both as triggers and potentiators of β-cell destruction (1–3), although the contribution of any individual exogenous factor has not yet been definit Continue reading >>
Symptoms & Causes Of Diabetes
What are the symptoms of diabetes? Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and urination increased hunger fatigue blurred vision numbness or tingling in the feet or hands sores that do not heal unexplained weight loss Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can start quickly, in a matter of weeks. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly—over the course of several years—and can be so mild that you might not even notice them. Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms. Some people do not find out they have the disease until they have diabetes-related health problems, such as blurred vision or heart trouble. What causes type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes occurs when your immune system, the body’s system for fighting infection, attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Scientists think type 1 diabetes is caused by genes and environmental factors, such as viruses, that might trigger the disease. Studies such as TrialNet are working to pinpoint causes of type 1 diabetes and possible ways to prevent or slow the disease. What causes type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes—the most common form of diabetes—is caused by several factors, including lifestyle factors and genes. Overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are not physically active and are overweight or obese. Extra weight sometimes causes insulin resistance and is common in people with type 2 diabetes. The location of body fat also makes a difference. Extra belly fat is linked to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and heart and blood vessel disease. To see if your weight puts you at risk for type 2 diabetes, check out these Body Mass Index (BMI) charts. Insulin resistance Type 2 diabetes usually begins with insulin resista Continue reading >>
What Causes Diabetes?
To understand what diabetes is, you must first understand how glucose (blood sugar) is normally processed in the body. How Insulin Works Insulin is a hormone that comes from the pancreas, a gland situated behind and below the stomach. The pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin allows sugar to enter your cells and lowers the amount of sugar that is in your bloodstream. As your blood sugar level drops, so does the amount of insulin released from your pancreas. The Role of Glucose Glucose is a blood sugar. It is the main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues in the body. Glucose comes from two major sources: food and your liver. Glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream and, where it enters the cells with the help of insulin. Your liver stores and makes glucose. When your insulin levels are low, such as when you haven’t eaten in a while, the liver breaks down glycogen (which is the main form of glucose that is stored in the body) into glucose to keep your glucose level within a normal range. Causes of Type 1 Diabetes Your immune system normally fights harmful bacteria or viruses. In type 1 diabetes, it attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leaves you with little or no insulin; instead of going into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, exactly what many of those factors are is still unclear. Causes of Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes In prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, your cells become resistant to insulin. When this happens, your pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Instead of moving into your cells where it’s needed for energy, sugar builds Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes Risks: Potential Environmental Factors Shown In This Infographic
Type 1 Diabetes Risks: Potential Environmental Factors Shown In This Infographic Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, affects more than one million Americans, according to the American Diabetes Association . Unlike Type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle, Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented and usually is diagnosed in childhood. In Type 1 diabetes, the insulin production in your body does not function properly, leaving your cells without the insulin they need to absorb sugar (glucose) to produce energy. Read: Diabetes Symptoms 2016: Everything You Need To Know A series of two studiespublished in the UK medical journal, The Lancet , gives insight to genetic risk factors for Type 1 diabetes and potential, controversial, environmental risk factors. The findings are illustrated in the infographic below. This infographic depicts the findings of a series of two studies published in The Lancet in June 2016. Photo courtesy of Visually The studies authors conclude, Interplay between an individuals genes and their exposure to different triggers at different stages might contribute to disease heterogeneity. Increased understandings of these mechanisms is urgently needed. To date, Mayo Clinic cites the only known risk factors as: family history, genetics, geography, and age. Other risks factors that have been investigated, but not proven are: exposure to certain viruses, early exposure to cows milk, low vitamin D level, and being born with jaundice, among other factors. Although much less common than Type 2 diabetes, cases of Type 1 diabetes areincreasing globally, research shows . Continue reading >>
Symptoms
Print Overview Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is vital to your health because it's an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. It's also your brain's main source of fuel. If you have diabetes, no matter what type, it means you have too much glucose in your blood, although the causes may differ. Too much glucose can lead to serious health problems. Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes — when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes — and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy but may resolve after the baby is delivered. Diabetes symptoms vary depending on how much your blood sugar is elevated. Some people, especially those with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, may not experience symptoms initially. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe. Some of the signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are: Increased thirst Frequent urination Extreme hunger Unexplained weight loss Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there's not enough available insulin) Fatigue Irritability Blurred vision Slow-healing sores Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections Although type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, it typically appears during childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can develop at any age, though it's more common in people older than 40. When to see a doctor If you suspect you or your child may have diabetes. If you notice any poss Continue reading >>
Causes Of Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes
About 415 million people world-wide have diabetes; 90-95% of these have Type 2 diabetes. By the year 2040 the global prevalence figure is predicted to have risen to 642 million. Research suggests that in NZ approximately 1 in 4 people have pre-diabetes. (In the US recent figures released suggest 1 in 3).Type 1 diabetes accounts for only 5-10% of cases of diabetes. Those at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes include: People over forty: Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for the majority of diabetes, is most common in middle and old age (although younger people are increasingly dveloping Type 2 diabetes) People who are overweight: Over 80% of people with Type 2 diabetes are obese People with diabetic relatives: Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are associated with an inherited tendency (see below). The genetic component of the disease is different for Type 1 and Type 2. Many scientists believe that the risk of passing on Type 2 diabetes to offspring is greater if the diabetic parent is the mother. Diabetes is rare in some populations and racial groups, but occurs more frequently in others. The annual incidence of Type 1 diabetes in Finland, for example, is 64 per 100,000; in China it is only about 0.1 per 100,000. Maori males are 3 times, and females 5 times, more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, compared to their New Zealand European counterparts. In the United States, African Americans appear to be twice as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than white Americans. So what do we know about the causes of diabetes? What's covered on this page Part 1: What Causes Diabetes? The Genetic Element What are genes? Inheriting genes Learning from twins Genes for Type 1 diabetes Genes for Type 2 diabetes Genes for other types of diabetes Type 1 Diabetes Autoantibodies and the immune Continue reading >>
Diabetes: New Tool Tests Environmental Factors For Risk - Abc News
Chemicals in the water, soil, or buildings around you could be upping your risk of developing diabetes , according to new research from Stanford University. While genetics, diet and weight all feed into one's chances of getting adult-onset (type II) diabetes, these factors can only explain a portion of the risk -- environmental risk factors may offer a deeper understanding of why people develop the disease . Using a new technique which mimics the way scientists mapped the human genome, researchers were able to identify three environmental elements that are correlated with an increased risk of type II diabetes: a pesticide called heptachlor epoxide; the banned chemical PCBs, used in adhesives and machinery; and -- surprisingly -- a form of vitamin E. "Since the genome project was finished, a lot of people have been excited about the genetic causes of disease, but I don't think most people realize that the environmental factors for many things are actually stronger," says bioinformatics expert Dr. Atul Butte, a co-author of the study. Building on the same techniques scientists use to map disease risk over many genes, bioinformatics graduate student Chirag Patel conceived and designed a computer program that could map risk over hundreds of environmental factors, such as chemical toxins found in the soil, water, and industrial products around us. "We were hoping to find targetable environmental factors for diabetes," Butte says, "and it looks like that's what we've found." The research is still in its early stages, Butte and Patel caution, and these three chemicals are by no means proven to cause diabetes, but the new technology opens doors for future research in this area. The study was published Wednesday in the online journal PLoS ONE. Linking things in the environment Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes Causes: Environmental Factors - Type2diabetes.net
Several environmental factors have been identified as playing an important role in causing type 2 diabetes. These include being overweight or obese, not getting regular physical activity, smoking, and eating excess calories. You can lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and, if you have type 2 diabetes, improve your ability to control your high blood sugar by2: Getting to and staying at a healthier weight. By adopting a healthy pattern of eating and getting regular physical activity you can lose weight and decrease your diabetes risk. If you have diabetes, reducing your weight and keeping excess weight off will improve your ability to control your blood sugar. A strong body of research has shown that weight loss results in improved sensitivity to insulin and a correction in the balance of hormones involved in glucose control. Regular moderate physical activity. Regular moderate physical activity, such as walking briskly, has been shown to decrease risk for type 2 diabetes. Smoking. Studies have established a link between smoking and risk of developing diabetes (one study even showed that second-hand smoke increased risk). However, the link is not as clear as with obesity and lack of physical activity. Additionally, quitting smoking is sometimes accompanied by weight gain. You should definitely consider kicking the habit, if you smoke, but conventional wisdom says that you should also accompany smoking cessation with a plan for losing weight and getting regular physical activity. A healthy, carlorie-appropriate pattern of eating. When it comes to what you eat, most research shows that controlling calorie intake (and body weight) is the most important factor in decreasing risk for type 2 diabetes. Adopting an energy-appropriate, nutrient-dense pattern of eating Continue reading >>
Diabetes And The Environment
Alex has had type 1 diabetes since age 1. Alarmingly, the incidence of type 1 diabetes is increasing fastest in children under 5 years of age. Why? And then there are the economic costs. It is estimated that type 1 diabetes costs the U.S. $14.4 billion in medical costs and lost income, each year ( Tao et al. 2010). In 2002, U.S. spending on diabetes (type 1 and type 2) was estimated to be $132 billion. Rising health care expenditures are a serious problem, and a significant portion of health care spending is incurred by people with diabetes ( Hogan et al. 2003). It is clear that some environmental, not solely genetic, factors play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes. For instance, in sets of identical twins in which one twin has type 1 diabetes, the other twin does not necessarily develop the disease ( Hyttinen et al. 2003). Also, people who move from a country where type 1 is rare to a country where it is more common have an increased incidence of the disease, implying that genetics alone does not tell the whole story ( Feltbower et al. 2002). The incidence page has more information on type 1 diabetes incidence trends and patterns around the world. Environmental Risk Factors for Type 1 Diabetes Scientists have proposed a number of hypotheses to explain the rising rates of type 1, summarized on the why is diabetes increasing? page. Continue reading >>
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How Environment Affects Diabetes
Diabetes is primarily of 3 types: type 1 diabetes, which is genetic, type 2 diabetes, which stems from insulin resistance and type 3 diabetes or gestational diabetes that occurs in pregnant women. Apart from the fact that diabetes results from high blood sugar levels, it is also known for its associated repercussions on cardiovascular conditions and kidney health that are potentially serious. Apart from managing diabetes with medications, it is also important to understand how environment affects diabetes to counter the ill effects. How environment affects diabetes Continual inhalation of polluted air is majorly responsible for uncontrolled weight gain. Considering that most metropolitan cities are high on pollution levels, urban dwellers are more at risk. Increased weight affects diabetics adversely. Inhaling polluted air is also associated with enhanced insulin resistance. Furthermore, high pollution levels can aggravate cardiovascular problems in diabetics. Hence, they may not be able to control their blood sugar levels effectively thereby, amounting to complication. If you live in an environment that’s full of secondary smoke, exposure to it can aggravate your diabetic condition because primary and secondary smoke worsens insulin resistance. Besides, inhaling smoke causes inflammation in the lining of the arteries resulting in cardiovascular complications, which can make the diabetic condition even worse. Therefore, if you smoke, you must quit at the earliest to preserve good health. If you don’t smoke, you need to avoid secondary smoke as well. Stress, which is primarily a reaction to the environment around you, can aggravate diabetes. Stress will trigger the production of a hormone called cortisol that causes weight gain. Increased weight will contribute to di Continue reading >>
Diabetes Risk Factors
Diabetes is a condition that affects the body’s ability to use blood sugar for energy. The three types are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Doctors usually diagnose type 1 diabetes in childhood, although it can occur in adults also. Type 1 diabetes affects the body’s ability to produce insulin. This hormone is vital to helping the body utilize blood sugar. Without enough insulin, the extra blood sugar can damage the body. According to the American Diabetes Association, 5 percent of all people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects a body’s ability to use insulin properly. Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes make some insulin. However, they can’t make enough to keep up with rising blood sugar levels. Doctors associate type 2 diabetes with lifestyle-related factors like obesity. Gestational diabetes is a condition that causes women to have very high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. This condition is typically temporary. Having risk factors does not mean that someone will get diabetes. Doctors don’t know the exact cause of type 1 diabetes. Family history of type 1 diabetes is considered a risk factor. According to the American Diabetes Association, the child of a man with type 1 diabetes has a 1 in 17 chance of developing type 1 diabetes. If a woman has type 1 diabetes, her child has a 1 in 25 chance if the child was born when the woman was younger than 25. Women with type 1 diabetes who give birth at age 25 or older have a 1 in 100 chance of having a child with type 1 diabetes. Having a parent with type 2 diabetes also increases diabetes risk. Because diabetes is often related to lifestyle choices, parents may pass on poor health habits to their children. This increases their risk Continue reading >>
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Five Environmental Causes Of Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is usually blamed on people’s genes or their behavior, not on the environment. But diabetes rates are soaring worldwide. Genes could not change that fast. Here are five ways environmental changes are causing diabetes. This information is updated from my book Diabetes: Sugar-Coated Crisis, published in 2007. Since then, things have changed, mostly for the worse. Hopefully, knowing how the environment makes people sick will help you protect yourself against it. Unhealthful food. People were not made to eat large quantities of refined carbohydrates — the “white things,” such as sweets, breads, pastas, etc. These foods don’t occur in nature and do not trigger normal digestion and absorption. Refined carbohydrates. Carbs that have had their bran and germ layers — which contain most of the fiber and nutrients — removed are widely available, cheap, taste good, and may well be addictive. They raise your serotonin and dopamine levels, making you feel good for a short while. Then your blood glucose drops and you feel miserable again, and you need another fix. Barriers to physical activity. People used to move their bodies in the course of work, food gathering, transportation, and recreation. Most of this is now done by machines, so you have to consciously seek physical activity. This is much harder when you have too many other demands, not enough support, and mixed motivation. (“Life is hard enough already without having to exercise.”) Stress. Stress is the body’s response to a threat, often called the “fight-or-flight” response. Stress hormones, particularly cortisol, raise blood glucose levels and blood pressure. They do this so muscles involved in fight or flight will have enough fuel. Under stress, only the cells actually being used to Continue reading >>
Can Chemicals Cause Diabetes?
In general, the risk factors for type 2 diabetes are pretty clear: A lack of exercise, a poor diet, genes, and ethnicity are the most serious determinants of the disease. But now that more than 29 million Americans have diabetes and 86 million more are prediabetic, researchers are also focusing on other factors that might increase a person’s risk of developing diabetes. Some of the other culprits thought to be contributing to the diabetes epidemic are chemicals found in the environment and in products we use daily. Certain chemicals may directly increase the risk of the disease, while others may contribute to obesity, a serious risk factor in the development of type 2 diabetes. At this point, research on whether exposure to chemicals can lead to any or all types of diabetes is still in the very preliminary stages, and there's a lack of randomized controlled studies — the gold standard for medical research — indicating that the two are directly linked. Here’s what we know now. The Relationship Between Chemicals and Diabetes “There is an association between some chemicals in the environment and diabetes,” says Kristina Thayer, PhD, director of the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. “What we don’t know is whether it’s causal.” That means that while a number of studies might link a higher level of certain chemicals to a greater likelihood of developing diabetes, it’s not yet clear whether that chemical exposure preceded the diabetes. More research is needed to better establish a potential causal relationship between the two. Phthalates and BPA As far as specific chemical culprits, phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) — common chemicals found in soaps, Continue reading >>
