Diabetes, also known as Diabetes Mellitus, is a chronic disease that may lead to serious health issues like kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, blindness and other complications.

Diabetes occurs when there is not enough insulin in the body system to help the glucose from the carbohydrates in the food taken to get to the cells and be used for energy. When this happens, glucose remains in the body and does not reach the cells.

The causes of diabetes are not exactly defined because the causes differ, depending on the individual and the type. That is, diabetes could affect Mr. A due to family history (genes) and affect Mr. B due to environmental factors (bacterial infection).

There are various types of diabetes but we’ll only focus on the most common types which are the Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

For type 1 diabetes mellitus, the body does not make insulin, a peptide hormone created by beta cells of the pancreatic islets, and the immune system starts to attack the cells in the pancreas that make insulin.

This type of diabetes is usually found in children and young adults but it can also develop at any age. Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus have to take insulin (artificial insulin) every day to remain alive.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus may be caused by bacterial or viral infection and Chemical toxins in food.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Unlike type 1 diabetes mellitus, the type 2 diabetes mellitus usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which muscles, livers, and fat cells do not effectively make use of insulin produced by the body system.

The type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common type of diabetes and although genetics and environmental factors, such as being overweight and inactive, seem to be contributing factors, but exactly why it happens remains unknown.

People are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus if they are not physically active, are old or above 45, and are overweight or obese.

The most likely type 2 diabetes mellitus cause is the family history.

You can take steps to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes mellitus by losing weight if you are overweight, eating fewer calories, and being more physically active.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

This type of diabetes mellitus affects women during pregnancy as the body becomes less sensitive to insulin.

According to a report by NCBI, In normal pregnancy, the maternal tissues become progressively insensitive to insulin and this is believed to be caused partly by hormones from the placenta and partly by other obesity and pregnancy related factors that are not fully understood.

Some of the symptoms of diabetes include fatigue, increased thirst and urination, blurred vision, numbness or tingling of the hands or feet, and unexplained weight loss.