Diabetes Basics
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which
persistent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar level) arises either from
insufficient secretion of the hormone insulin or due to inadequate
response of target cells to insulin, or a combination of both. Diabetes
is a metabolic disease requiring medical diagnosis, treatment and
lifestyle changes. In diabetes mellitus, the body is unable to produce
or properly use and store glucose leading to abnormal increase of
glucose in the bloodstream. It causes blood glucose or "sugar" to rise
too high.
There are many forms of diabetes, but
the three most common patterns of diabetes that have been recognized
over the last three decades are type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
These three types of diabetes are caused by a variety of identifiable or
yet-to-be-identified causes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not
produce insulin at all.
As such, people suffering from it are
required to take daily doses of insulin either through injections or
inhalers. It starts generally in childhood or adolescence. On the other
hand, type 2 diabetes generally affects adults. This diabetes occurs
when the body does not produce enough insulin and/or is unable to use
insulin properly (insulin resistance). Gestational diabetes affects
almost 4 % of all pregnant women. It attacks only when a women is
pregnant.
The chances are high that you may have diabetes
mellitus but you may not show any symptoms. But, it is normal, since
diabetes develops slowly, particularly type 2 diabetes. Two most common
symptoms of diabetes mellitus are excessive thirst and increased
urination.
Sometimes, diabetes may
feel like a viral illness accompanied by fatigue, loss of appetite and
weakness. Also, you may gain or loose weight unusually. Other symptoms
of diabetes mellitus include blurred vision, slow healing of sores,
frequent infections, and damage of the nerves among others.
Keeping your blood sugar level under control is the first step
towards feeling healthy and avoiding long term complications of diabetes
mellitus. Other treatments for diabetes mellitus are controlling your
diet, physical exercise and medications. Often diabetes mellitus goes
undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless that you
continue to ignore them. However, recent studies indicate that the early
detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can minimize the chances of
developing the complications of diabetes.