1) You are more likely to get nerve damage (neuropathy). This is because smoking affects your blood circulation and that in turn means your nerve endings are not getting the nutrients they need. If this happens to the nerves in your feet it could lead to sores and infections and, if not taken care of properly, even amputation.

2) There is an increased risk – double in fact -of you getting limited mobility in your joints. It’s no fun trying to bend, climb stairs or lift something when you have a painful joint.

3) Because of smoking you could develop kidney disease.

4) When you smoke your blood pressure increases. Increased blood pressure creates a real risk of heart disease.

5) Research has shown that diabetics who smoke increase, 3-fold, the risk of dying of heart (cardiovascular) disease.

6) By smoking you increase your blood-sugar levels. This makes it more difficult to control your diabetes because your glucose levels could be fluctuating quite dramatically. This, in turn, leads to other problems.

7) And it also increases your cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of a heart attack.

In fact smoking – and passive smoking – have a seriously detrimental effect on the ABC’s of diabetes management:

* The measurement of your blood glucose over a 3-month period
* Your blood pressure, which should be below 130/80
* Your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol levels include LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Your LDL should be below 100. HDL levels should be above 40 (for men) and above 50 (for women). Tryglycerides should be below 150.

And, of course, on top of all that there’s the proven risk of cancer!

Wheat is the most common cereal in use throughout the world for making bread. They are a good source of energy. With its all important coating of bran, vitamins and minerals, they are an excellent health-building food.

Wheat is generally ground into flour for use as food. However refined wheat flour comprises a serious health hazard of the several processed foods being used today for their delightful taste, white flour (maida) is particularly harmful. The colossal loss of vitamins and mineral in refined wheat flour has led to widespread prevalence of constipation and other related disgestine disturbance and nutritional disorders, particularly diabetes. The consumption of white flour is thus an important contributory cause of diabetes, and its aggravation, if the disease has already developed.

White Salt

Common salt or sodium chloride is a major factor in maintaining the acid base equilibrium of the body. They’re also essential for the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Therefore, although a certain amount of salt essential for the body system, it is required in very little quantities, ranging from 10 to 15 g per day.

Excessive use of salt puts extra burden on the kidneys, may cause hypertension, which is closely associated with diabetes. Excessive consumption of salt promotes water retention in the body, which in due course may lead to obesity, which is a potent cause of diabetes. Too much salt is thus harmful and may promote or hasten the onset of diabetes.

Salt (sodium chloride) and sodium preservatives are added to most refined foods. A sodium-controlled diet must avoid or limit salted snacks; pickles and many others processed convenience foods.

Tea and Coffee

Drinking tea and coffee is a serious health hazard for the diabetic. The most alkaloid principle in both tea and coffee is caffeine. Caffeine is an addictive drug similar to cocaine in as much as it stimulates the central nervous system. Whilst these effects is short-lived, it has been observed that they lead to withdrawal symptoms of irritability, lethargy, headaches and anxiety. The regular consumption of tea and coffee causes indigestion and gas formation, diarrhea, and constipation. They also increase the blood glucose level, which might lead to diabetes or aggravate its symptoms wherever the disease is already present.

Heredity

Heredity is a major factor. That diabetes can be inherited has been known for centuries. However, the pattern of inheritance is not fully understood. Statistic indicates that those with a family history of the disease have a higher risk of developing diabetes than those without such a background. The risk factor is 25 to 33 percent more.

One reason why diabetes, especially type-2 diabetes runs in the family is because of the diabetes gene. But even it is caused by genetic factors beyond your control; there is no reason to suffer from it. Diabetes mellitus cannot be cured in full sense of the term, but it can be effectively controlled so that you would not know the difference.

Diet

Diabetes has been described by most medical scientists as a prosperity’ disease, primarily caused by systematic overeating. Not only is eating too much sugar and refined carbohydrates harmful, but proteins and fats, which are transformed into sugar, may also result in diabetes if taken in excess.

It is interesting to note that diabetes is almost unknown in countries where people are poor and cannot afford to overeat.

The incidence of diabetes is directly linked with the consumption of processed foods rich in refined carbohydrates, like biscuits, bread, cakes chocolates, pudding and ice creams.

Obesity

Obesity is one of the main causes of diabetes. Studies show that 60 to 85 % of diabetics tend to be overweight. In the United States of America, about 80 percent of type –2 non-insulin dependent diabetics are reported to be overweight.

Excess fat prevents insulin from working properly. The more fatty tissue in the body, the more resistant the muscle and tissue cells become to body insulin. Insulin allows the sugar in the blood to enter the cells by acting on the receptor sites on the surface of the cells.

Older people often tend to gain weight, and the same time, many of them develop and mild form of diabetes because who are over weight can often improve their blood sugar simply by losing weight.

Stress and Tension

There is a known connection between stress and diabetes mellitus, those who are under stress and/or lead an irregular lifestyle, need to take adequate precautions and make necessary lifestyle adjustments.

Grief, worry and anxiety resulting from examinations, death of a close relative, loss of a joy, business failure and strained marital relationship, all a deep influence on the metabolism and may cause sugar to appear in the urine.

Smoking

Smoking is another important risk factor. Among men who smoke, the risk of developing diabetes is doubled. In women who smoke 25 or more cigarettes a day, the risk of developing diabetes is increased by 40 percent.

Lifestyle Risk

People who are less active have greater risk of developing diabetes. Modern conveniences have made work easier. Physical activity and exercise helps control weight, uses up a lot of glucose (sugar) present in the blood as energy and makes cells more sensitive to insulin. Consequently, the workload on the pancreas is reduced.

Type 1 Causes

What causes diabetes in type 1 is probably genetic inheritance of an autoimmune disease. Although it might also be caused by malnutrition or a virus that attacks the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is the result of an attack by the patient’s own immune system on the beta cells of the pancreas. The beta cells produce insulin and their attack and destruction by T-cells in the body results in no insulin production. Another cause of type 1 diabetes may be a result of the abnormal secretion of some hormones, which result in decreased insulin production.

Type 2 Causes

What causes diabetes for the type 2 individual is also unknown. This diabetes usually occurs in adults. The body does produce enough insulin but for some reason cannot use it appropriately. The majority of people suffering from type 2 diabetes are overweight or have a family history of diabetes. In addition, in many situations, the obesity is centered around the abdomen. Abdominal fat might produce a hormone or group of hormones that results in insulin resistance.

Gestational Causes

In gestational diabetes the condition develops in the mother during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth. The cause is attributed to hormones that are produced during pregnancy that have an effect on insulin.

While there is no one specific cause that medical research can pinpoint these are the contributing factors to what causes diabetes:

· Genetics: If you have diabetes in your immediate family tree you will be more likely to develop it yourself.
· Age: As you approach middle age you are more prone to developing this disease
· Poor diet: A lack of healthy nutrition such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains combined with a diet that consists of refined sugars such as junkfood can contribute to this disease.
· Obesity: Being overweight is a contributing factory to diabetes.
· Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of exercise is another contributing factor.