The cause of diabetes depends on the type.
Type 1 diabetes is partly inherited and then triggered by certain infections, with some evidence pointing at Coxsackie B4 virus. There is a genetic element in individual susceptibility to some of these triggers which has been traced to particular HLA genotypes (i.e., the genetic "self" identifiers relied upon by the immune system). However, even in those who have inherited the susceptibility, type 1 diabetes mellitus seems to require an environmental trigger.
Type 2 diabetes is due primarily to lifestyle factors and genetics.
- Genetic defects of β-cell Function
- Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY)
- Mitochondrial DNA mutations
- Genetic defects in insulin processing or insulin action
- Defects in proinsulin conversion
- Insulin gene mutations
- Insulin receptor mutations
- Exocrine Pancreatic Defects
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Pancreatectomy
- Pancreatic neoplasia
- Cystic fibrosis
- Hemochromatosis
- Fibrocalculous pancreatopathy
| - Endocrinopathies
- Growth hormone excess (acromegaly)
- Cushing syndrome
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pheochromocytoma
- Glucagonoma
- Infections
- Cytomegalovirus infection
- Coxsackievirus B
- Drugs
- Glucocorticoids
- Thyroid hormone
- β-adrenergic agonists
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