[ Types & Causes ]

What's diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone, which is secreted by pancreas, helps the body change food into energy. Without insulin, sugar builds up in the blood and the lack of insulin will cause metabolic disorder of the body.

There are two types of diabetes:
Type 1 - A disease in which the body does not produce any insulin, most often occurring in children and young adults. People with Type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to stay alive. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5 to 10 percent of diabetes.
Type 2 - A metabolic disorder resulting from the body's inability to make enough, or properly use, insulin. It is the most common form of the disease. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of diabetes.

What causes diabetes?
The cause of diabetes is not known but it is partly genetic and partly environmental.
First, the genetics factor is not to be overlooked. 30% of identical twins and 10% of siblings develop diabetes.
Second, the environmental factors such as obesity, lack of exercise and viral infections appear to play roles.