8590 of individuals when fasting hyperglycemia is initially detected betacell destruction is thought to be primarily a tcell mediated process as evidenced by the presence of intense insulitis an inflammation of the islets of langerhans of the pancreas in newly diagnosed patients beta cell destruction is variable being more rapid in younger individuals and slower in older individuals antibodies are proteins that destroy bacteria or viruses autoantibodies are antibodies gone bad which attack the bodys own tissues thus we know now that type 1 and type 2 diabetes have different causes yet two factors are important in both one inherits a predisposition to the disease genes then something in the environment triggers it genes alone are not enough one proof of this is identical twins identical twins have identical genes yet when one twin has type 1 diabetes the other gets the disease at most only half the time when one twin has type 2 diabetes the others risk is at most 3 in 4 type 2 diabetes has a stronger link to family history and lineage than type 1 although it too depends on environmental factor such as food intake and exercise studies of twins have shown that genetics play a very strong role in the development of type 2 diabetes but the genes involved remain poorly defined lifestyle also influences the development of type 2 diabetes obesity tends to run in families and families tend to have similar eating and exercise habits if you have a family history of type 2 diabetes it may be difficult to figure out whether your diabetes is due to lifestyle factors or genetic susceptibility most likely it is due to both however dont lose heart studies show that it is possible to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes by exercising eating right and thereby losing weight and delaying or preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes read more personal health diet fitness stories on wwwhealthmeupcom