Posts Tagged ‘diabetes risk factors’
What are the causes of diabetes
While medical researchers have so far not been able to nail down exactly what causes diabetes, you’d do well to take note of certain factors from this diabetes blog post, that have been linked to the development of diabetes.
Causes of diabetes – Genetics
Genetics is a main factor. It has been known for ages that diabetes can be inherited. Nonetheless, the pattern of inheritance happens to be far from fully understood.
Statistics indicate that people with diabetic family members are at a higher risk of acquiring diabetes than those without. In cases of families where diabetes is common the risk factor is about thirty percent higher.
One main cause of diabetes, especially type-2 diabetes being inherited is the diabetes gene. However, even you acquire diabetes genetically and even though it is beyond your control, that still doesn’t mean that you have to suffer badly because of it. There is no cure for diabetes mellitus in the full sense of the term, but it can be efficiently kept under control.
Causes of diabetes – Diet
Overeating, say medical scientists, is one of the main causes of diabetes.it is very important to maintain a healthy diet to control diabetes. Diabetes has been described by most medical scientists as a prosperity disease, for the most part caused by regular overeating. Not only is ingesting too much sugar and refined carbohydrates damaging, but proteins and fat, which are transformed into sugar, may also cause diabetes if taken in excess.
It is remarkable to note that diabetes is almost unheard of in countries where folks happen to be underprivileged and cannot afford to overindulge.
The prevalence of diabetes is directly linked with the eating of processed foods rich in refined carbohydrates, such as pudding, cake, bread and chocolate.
Causes of diabetes – Obesity
Obesity is a key contributor to diabetes. Research has shown that between sixty five and eighty percent of diabetics tend to be obese. In the United States alone, about eighty percent of type –2 non-insulin dependent diabetics are said to be obese.
The proper working of insulin in the body is hampered by excess fat. The tissue cells in the body and the muscles as well become resistant to insulin due to the large amount of fatty tissue. Insulin allows the glucose in the blood to enter the cells by acting on the receptor sites on the surface of the cells.
Once people grow older and pass a certain age, they tend to put on weight, and the same time, and many a time a lot of these people develop a mild form of diabetes.
Causes of diabetes – Lifestyle
Being active and living an active life is very important. Folks that lead less active lives and refrain from physical exercise are at a very high risk of getting diabetes. Work these days has become quite easy because of all the latest technology, physical activity is at a minimum. Physical activity and exercise help keep weight under contro. Consequently, the workload on the pancreas is reduced.
Gestational Diabetes
Before we come to Gestational Diabetes, let’s take a look at diabetes, Diabetes also known as Diabetes Mellitus derived from the Greek word diabaineine, is a chronic and complex disease, caused by having too much glucose (sugar) in the blood.
What is Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a passing condition that occurs during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes affects two to four per cent of almost all pregnancies and entails a heightened possibility of developing diabetes for both the child as well as the mother.
Gestational diabetes is also known as glucose intolerance of pregnancy.
What causes gestational diabetes?
Weight gain coupled with changing hormones is part of a healthy pregnancy. But this change makes it a difficult task for your body to keep up with its need for a hormone known as insulin. Any medical blog or study says that when this occurs, your body doesn’t get the energy it requires from the food you ingest.
High risk groups for Gestational Diabetes
To find out about your risk for being affected by gestational diabetes, check each item that applies to you. Speak to your doctor about your risk at your first prenatal visit.
• Are you more than 25 yrs of age?
• Have you had gestational diabetes or shown diabetes symptoms before?
• Have you given birth to at least one baby weighing more than 9 pounds?
• Are you overweight?
• Have you been told that you have “pre-diabetes
(a condition in which blood glucose levels are high,but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes)
• Do you have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes?
• Are you an African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander?
If you have answered yes to any of the above risk factors, get yourself tested for gestational diabetes.
When do you need to be checked for gestational diabetes?
Depending upon your risk factors the doctor will decide when exactly you need to be checked for gestational diabetes.
Your blood glucose level may be checked at your first prenatal visit, if you are at high risk. You will be checked again sometime between weeks 24 and 28 of your pregnancy, If your test results are normal. You will be checked sometime between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy, if you happen to be at an average risk. Your doctor may decide that you do not need to be checked if there is no risk or the risk for gestational diabetes is very low.
Risk Factors For Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects about 4% of all pregnant women. It usually appears midway through the second trimester and disappears after the birth of the baby. It is not permanent. How do you know if you are at risk for developing gestational diabetes?
- Obesity – with a BMI of 30 or over
- Family history of Type 2 diabetes
- If you are an older mom – age 35 or over
- If you previously delivered larger babies (between 8 lbs. 5 oz and 9 lbs. 14 oz.)
- If you have high blood pressure
- You are Hispanic, African American, Native American, South or East Asian, or of Pacific Island descent.
Good prenatal care is important for all pregnant mothers, but especially important for women who carry the risk factors for gestational diabetes. Diabetes during pregnancy needs to be properly controlled to ensure the well being of both mom and baby.
Usually, under your healthcare provider’s guidance, a healthy, balanced diet, and more exercise can go a long way towards controlling gestational diabetes. Occasionally insulin will also be used to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. Good control will ensure a happy healthy outcome for all.