A combination of factors causes diabetes. These factors are not completely understood and the multiple types of the disease, each with varying risk factors, further cloud the understanding. The most common types are Type 1 and Type 2; approximately 97% of diabetes cases in the United States are one of these two types. A combination of genetic and environmental factors contributes to both types.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type.

The major cause of Type 2 is believed to be obesity. Obesity stems from a combination of heredity factors and lifestyle choices, making it an excellent prototype for a diabetes’ risk factor. Although exercise and diet are choices, some people are more prone to gain weight than others and other people can lose weight more easily than others can.

But there are many other factors, as well.

While diabetes that develops during pregnancy (gestational diabetes), ceases after delivery, it is a risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Nearly 40 % of women who have gestational diabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes, usually within ten years of the pregnancy in which the gestational diabetes occurred. Giving birth to a larger baby is another sign of high risk.

Glucose intolerance is another genetically influenced factor. Since Type 2 diabetes results not from underproduction of insulin (as in Type 1) but from inadequate use of it, it shouldn’t be surprising that glucose intolerance is a contributing circumstance. That glucose intolerance should exist is puzzling enough, since it’s a major source of the body’s energy. But genetic anomalies produce some unusual situations.

Another risk factor of Type 2 diabetes is ethnicity. The reasons for this are not understood. Some Asians, as well as Africans, Latin Americans, and Aboriginals are at higher risk. One Canadian study found that these groups have from a risk level of 1.5 to 2 times higher than Caucasians. However, Caucasians are at greater risk for developing Type 1 diabetes than other groups are.

Another risk factor is high blood pressure. Lifestyle choices can cause high blood pressure, but genetics plays a strong role. A positive correlation exists between high blood pressure and the future development of diabetes. High cholesterol is another factor. Like high blood pressure high cholesterol is due to both lifestyle choices and genetic factors. More than 40% of people with diabetes also have high cholesterol.

While all of these factors have a genetic component having a family member with the disease likely represents the highest hereditary risk factor.

Someone with a sibling or a parent with Type 1 diabetes has as a 10-20 times higher risk than the average person of developing the disease. Babies of mothers under the age of 25 have a 1 in 25 chance of developing diabetes if one of their parents has the condition. Babies born to mother older than 25, have about a 1% chance of developing diabetes if one of the parents has it; this is about the same risk as the general population. If the parents were younger than age 11 when they developed the diabetes, their baby’s chance of getting diabetes rises to 10%.

The genetic risk factors of contracting diabetes are still an active area of research. Fortunately, while in generations past there was nothing one could do to influence them, modern genetic treatments hold out promise of altering even these odds.

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Diabetes certainly limits some of the food you can consume, but by using the right diabetic recipes you can still enjoy fine food. An excellent method of reducing the symptoms of diabetes is by controlling what types of food you eat, this is also a good method if you want to avoid diabetes in the first place. If you are living with diabetes, one of the best ways to fight this disease is with a diabetic diet plan using diabetic recipes.

One of your first goals with your new diabetic diet should be to lose some weight as this is not only important in maintaining your health but may have been the cause of the condition to start with. And one of the best ways to follow a diabetic diet is to eat foods that are from all of the four basic food groups.

Two complications associated with diabetes are heart disease and strokes but by sticking to your diabetic diet plan you should reduce the risk of having these problems. A diabetic diet using specially formulated diabetic recipes which are essentially a healthy, low-fat, balanced eating plan that helps the patient feel better and more energetic, and achieve some control over the symptoms like fatigue, thirst, blurred vision.

The average diabetic menu consists of foods like fruit, vegetables, lean meat, poultry, beans, whole grains, fish and non-fat dairy foods in a balanced diet The low-carb diabetic dietary plans are a little different and only certain vegetables are allowed such as kidney beans, carrots and avocados as well as fish, meat, poultry, cheese and eggs. Saturated fats and cholesterol are a problem if you are a diabetic so you would need to follow diabetic recipes that cut down on foods like this and eat skinless poultry as well as fresh fruit and vegetables.

Weighing your food when you’re on a diabetic diet is as important as the foods you consume, so that you receive the correct amount of calories. Using the food labels in the supermarkets will also become second nature when you are preparing your diabetic recipes as they contain useful information, usually based on a diet of 2,000 calories per day.

For example, your breakfast on 2,000 calorie diabetic diet plan might consist of something like this, a cup of skimmed milk or sugar free yoghurt, a couple of slices of bread, rice cakes or pasta if you prefer, an egg prepared your favorite way and a serving of fruit. However, if a lower 1,800 calorie per day has been advised for your diabetic diet plan then your diabetic recipes book might suggest something like a cup of skimmed milk, a tablespoon of cheese, a couple of slices of bread and a serving of fruit.

With your balanced diet you would be able to have an afternoon snack which could be some fruit and a couple of crackers washed down with a half cup of tea or coffee but only with artificial sweeteners. Alternatively, to vary your diabetic diet you could always have a cup of skimmed milk or yoghurt to replace the tea or coffee. Diabetic diets using specially formulated diabetic recipes can be just as interesting as a normal diet but you just have to know what you are allowed to eat and vary your menus to keep them interesting.

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The symptoms of diabetes can be puzzling. Even the common ones may not be present in all cases. They may come and go. And the same symptoms can be produced by other conditions. Nevertheless, there are a cluster of common circumstances that tend to mark out the disease.

A typical symptom of diabetes is excessively frequent urination. The primary definitive symptom of diabetes is an excess of glucose in the blood. In Type 1 diabetes the body fails to produce sufficient insulin to process glucose, while in Type 2 diabetes insulin is not used properly.

Excess urination stems from the body’s attempt to restore the glucose body. The kidneys work overtime to process the extra sugar; however they can’t filter is all. The remaining glucose is then eliminated through other metabolic mechanisms.

The excess urination leads to extreme thirst. A person with untreated diabetes may be constantly thirsty. No amount of fluid seems to quench the thirst, but it does cause more urination.

Constant tiredness may also be a sign of diabetes. The body’s insulin is failing to help cells absorb glucose from the blood and the result is fatigue. Glucose powers most body functions, including movement and cell repair.

But other body systems can be affected by diabetes and show up as symptoms.

Age and other conditions can cause blurry vision. As we age, the lenses of our eyes lose their elasticity, making focusing more difficult. This is called presbyopia. Vision problems related to diabetes, are more damaging than simple age related changes.

Diabetes affects the eyes by reducing fluids in all your tissues, particularly the lenses. Focusing becomes more difficult. If left untreated, diabetes can cause more blood vessels to appear on the retina, impairing vision. You may see spots (floaters), flashes of light or auras around lights

Diabetes can also affect wound healing. Cuts, especially on the feet may heal more slowly in a person with Type 2 diabetes. Scientists don’t clearly understand the reasons for this problem, but can be another symptom. In addition, the immune system is weakened and cannot fight infection as well.

Since so many of these symptoms can be (and are) produced by a number of other conditions, the best course of action if you suspect you have diabetes is to seek a professional diagnosis. Simple blood tests can determine with a high degree of confidence whether or not you do in fact have the disease. They’re relatively painless and most are covered by ordinary health insurance.

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Dealing with diabetes brings a host of challenges. Emotional, psychological, and physical adjustments are needed in order to successfully deal with diabetes.

If not controlled, diabetes can damage the eyes, the kidneys, and other essential organs. Diabetes can reduce kidney function. It can cause vision changes and other health problems. Fortunately, you can choose to control this damage by changing your diet and exercise habits and by taking medicine if need be.

Unfortunately, the emotional aspects of diabetes are not as easily dealt with, nor are they easy to measure, but they can have significant physical and mental effects.

The chief emotional aspect of diabetes is stress. Stress can start a vicious cycle for the diabetic, because stress diminishes the body’s ability to fight infection. This hampering of the immune system, can promote infections, and more stress as the person worries about becoming ill from infections.

Breaking that cycle requires a broad spectrum of diabetes management techniques. Keeping the body as healthy as possible will minimize the effects. Keeping the right attitude will help reduce the odds of the effects occurring in the first place.

This may be difficult at first, but in time most diabetics learn to cope. The greatest difficult may be coming to terms with the fact that diabetes is a long-term condition, one you will likely have to manage as long as you life.

Accepting the fact that daily, repeated monitoring of your blood glucose levels is necessary is a major step. Blood glucose levels must be kept steady through a combination of exercise, and diet; medication may also be needed. A steady blood glucose level means that diabetes will tax your system less and so you will have less to stress over. Your routine for taking care of your diabetes must be a daily part of your life, just like washing your hands or combing your hair.

Being informed of the damage diabetes can cause if action is not taken to prevent them can motivate you to take action. Understanding the possible consequences of diabetes is an essential part of developing the right attitude towards the disease and warding off its physical effects.

Once you are informed, put your knowledge to action. Make a firm commitment to manage your diabetes. While this take patience and courage, you are up to the challenge.

But that kind of commitment doesn’t happen simply by wishing for it. Few can simply will themselves onto the right path. It starts by facing small challenges and overcoming them. A minor dietary change. The adoption of a single brief exercise routine three times a week. Then the actions can become wider - more dietary changes - and longer term, more exercise routines carried out every day.

Gradually, conquering the management and control of diabetes increases your confidence that you can do so in the future. In time, diabetes management will become part of your lifestyle and no longer a burden, merely another bump in life’s road.

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