Causes Of Diabetes: What are the risk factors?



Posted: Sunday, December 27, 2009

by
Feng Shui Absolutely

Diabetes can be one of the worst chronic diseases, robbing you of your health and ultimately our li
fe. While doctors differ about the causes of the disease, there are many factors believed to increase your risk of contracting diabetes. In order to reduce risk factors, you should pay attention to your general health, especially your diet, and learn everything scientists already know about this disease. It has already been proven that genetics play a role in the risk of contracting diabetes. Family history bears this out, even going back a century or more to before the disease was well-known. Those with an immediate family member who has diabetes are up to 33% more likely to eventually end up getting the disease than those whose family histories do not contain it. Let us take a look at the causes of diabetes...

There are also special risk factors for children, especially those whose mothers already have diabetes. A mother who has developed diabetes prior to conception or suffers from gestational diabetes while pregnant seems more likely to bear children who suffer from juvenile diabetes than a mother who is free of the disease. Children whose fathers have diabetes are also at risk for contracting it in childhood, but the risk is far less.

For this reason, mothers should take special care while pregnant to make sure she does not inadvertently pass diabetes on to her child. Her blood sugar should be checked regularly, and she should follow her doctor's advice to make sure it remains under control throughout her pregnancy. A diabetic mother whose blood sugar remains at normal levels is much less likely to pass the diabetes on to her child than one who has a difficult pregnancy due to the condition.

While none of these factors is an absolute cause of diabetes, it is critically important to monitor the mother during pregnancy. If the mother's blood sugar is kept at proper levels throughout the pregnancy, she is much less likely to pass diabetes on to her unborn child.

Scientists around the world are hard at work isolating the genes that cause diabetes. No single cause has been determined yet, nor has a cure been found. However, studies show that diabetes can be effectively controlled so that it does not significantly affect your life or the lives of your loved ones. A study funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is currently investigating whether treating the diabetic's closest relatives with low doses of insulin or oral diabetes medication can help prevent the onset of the disease.

Besides genetics, the food we eat is believed to play a big role in the onset of the disease. Some scientists refer to diabetes as the "disease of prosperity" because it is believed to be caused by excessive eating. Overdoses of sugar, protein, and fat can all eventually lead to diabetes.

Chronic overeating overtaxes the pancreas, which is the organ in the body that produces insulin. Eventually, the pancreas shuts down altogether, and insulin stops being produced. This condition seldom occurs in impoverished countries where overeating is not an option for most people.

While genetics and diet are probably not the only causes of diabetes, they certainly play a major role in the development of the disease. Whether or not you believe you are at risk for diabetes, you should follow a healthy diet and exercise plan and learn about your family history so you can prevent the onset of diabetes.


Kenn Fong, writer. To find out more on Can you Die from Diabetes], visit his web site The Diabetes Scoop.
Henry Fong is a Feng Shui Consultant based in Malaysia. He provide Feng Shui consultation for both residential as well as commercial properties via his on-site as well as off-site services over the Net. www.henryfong.com
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