What are the main causes of type 1 & type 2 diabetes?

Causes. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Usually, the body's own immune system — which normally fights harmful bacteria and viruses — mistakenly ... Over time, type 1 diabetes complications can affect major organs in your body, including heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. read more

Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. read more

Researchers aren’t entirely sure what causes type 1 diabetes, but they know that genes play a role, as do viral infections. Whatever triggers its development, type 1 diabetes involves the destruction of beta cells, which produce insulin. read more

They also know type 1 diabetes can result when something in the environment, like a virus, tells your immune system to go after your pancreas. Most people with type 1 diabetes have signs of this attack, called autoantibodies. read more