Understanding Diabetes: Causes and Warning Signs
Type 1 diabetes is largely down to your genes - if someone in your family has it, you're about three times more likely to develop it yourself. It usually shows up during childhood or the teenage years, though it can appear suddenly or develop gradually over time.
Type 2 diabetes has completely different causes, mainly linked to lifestyle choices. Poor diet (especially high-fat foods with little fibre from grains, vegetables, and fruits) and lack of exercise are the biggest culprits. When you don't exercise regularly, your body becomes less efficient at using insulin, which affects how you get energy from food.
One of the most serious signs of diabetes is changes in blood pressure. Most diabetics eventually develop high blood pressure, which damages your arteries and makes them harden (called atherosclerosis). This puts you at risk for heart attacks, strokes, and kidney damage later in life.
Quick Tip: Look out for extreme changes in consciousness - when blood sugar drops dangerously low, your body can go into fits. This might happen from skipping insulin, drinking too much alcohol, over-exercising, or missing meals.
Other warning signs include excessive sweating and dehydration (especially dangerous in type 2), frequent headaches that feel dull or throbbing, and feeling dizzy or unsteady on your feet.
