Q. I have heard that Diabetes is triggered by a virus and that it is in fact an Auto-Immune disease.

Is this true? I had never heard this before. I always thought it was from eating badly.

A. Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes, is indeed an auto-immune disease. It is unclear if it is a response to a virus, environmental factor or something else.

Type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed in people who are overweight, but it is not simply caused by "eating badly".

Type 2 diabetes runs in families but is more likely to develop in people who are inactive and overweight.

Q. My dad has been having an ongoing problem with the palms of his hands cracking, and splitting wide open, making the whole hand tight. It is very painful for him.

Could this be a sign of diabetes or something else possibly?

A. Dry skin is sometimes a sign of diabetes, but not a common one. He should see his physician for a proper diagnosis.