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Diabetes is a very serious condition which affects the way your body utilises glucose.
Glucose is a crucial source of energy for the body and this is why the inability to utilise it can be so dangerous. There are various underlying causes of diabetes depending on the type. There are also risk factors that indicate the probability of developing diabetes in the future.
Family History
Family history is perhaps the biggest risk factor for both diabetes type 1 and 2. If one or both of your parents or a sibling has diabetes, there is a very high probability that you will develop the condition down the road. Knowing your family history, therefore, is a great way of knowing whether you should start taking measures to prevent diabetes.
Environmental Factors
Illnesses and other factors that lead to injury to the pancreas (which produces insulin used to break down glucose) can lead to the development of diabetes, specifically diabetes type 1. This can include infections caused by certain viruses, or accidents.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a very serious medical condition where blood sugar (glucose) levels are a lot higher than they should be, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Around 80% of all people who have prediabetes do not know they do, and those who have elevated blood glucose levels do not normally conclude that they have the condition.
Because prediabetes is a huge risk factor for diabetes, it is very important to talk to a diabetes expert if your blood sugar levels have been elevated for some time. Going in for a consultation at a private diabetes clinic like The London Diabetes Centre should help you understand your status and know if you are at risk of diabetes. If you do have diabetes, you will be put in touch with one of the diabetes professionals at the private diabetic clinic to help you with the management of diabetes and to receive the care you will need going forward.
Weight and Inactivity
If you are above your optimal weight range, you have more fatty tissue. Fatty tissue causes the cells to become more resistant to insulin and thus they are unable to utilise glucose as expected. The result is higher blood sugar levels and diabetes. People who are less active have a higher risk of developing diabetes than those who are active. Physical activity helps you lose weight and keep it at an optimal level. Exercise helps utilise the glucose in your blood and makes the cells more sensitive to insulin.
Gestational Diabetes
If you have had gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops when pregnant) you are at a higher risk for developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes down the road. The risk also increases if your baby weighed more than 4 kilograms (9 pounds) at the time of birth.
Age
The risk of diabetes increases as we age. This is because of loss of muscle mass, exercising less frequently, and gaining weight as we age. Diabetes can lead to serious complications, and this is why it is so important to understand its risk factors.
If any of these risks apply to you, then you should get in touch with a diabetes specialist to have your blood tested and to chart the way forward.
