Diabetes is a condition that leads to elevated blood sugar levels.
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There are two primary types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes: A lifelong condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells.
- Type 2 diabetes: Occurs when the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or the cells do not respond effectively to insulin.
Type 2 diabetes is much more prevalent than type 1.
Gestational diabetes refers to high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy; it typically resolves after childbirth.
Read Also: Symptoms Of Diabetes
Causes of Diabetes
Blood sugar levels are regulated by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, which is located behind the stomach.
When you digest food, insulin helps move glucose from the bloodstream into cells, where it’s converted into energy.
In diabetes, the body struggles to convert glucose into energy.
This can occur either due to insufficient insulin production or because the insulin produced is ineffective.
While there are no lifestyle modifications to prevent type 1 diabetes, you can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes through healthy eating, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Factors that may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes include:
- Being overweight or obese
- Following an unhealthy diet
- Having a family history of type 2 diabetes
- Being of Asian, Black African, or African Caribbean descent
- Taking certain medications, such as long-term steroid use
- Having high blood pressure
- Experiencing gestational diabetes during pregnancy
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