Even though diabetes may be caused by many of the same factors as other chronic conditions, people with diabetes often face stigma because there are misconceptions around what causes the disease.
Type 1 diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. It happens when the body’s immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, but some possible causes include genetics, exposure to viruses and other environmental factors.
Type 2 diabetes:
Type 2 diabetes is not an autoimmune disorder. There are two reasons why type 2 diabetes occurs: 1) the body still makes insulin, but can’t use it properly (this is called insulin resistance); and 2) insulin production in the pancreas decreases (this is called insulin deficiency).
