Diabetes mellitus often simply diabetes (Greek: διαβήτης), is asyndromecharacterized by disorderedmetabolismand inappropriately highblood sugar(hyperglycaemia) resulting from either low levels of thehormoneinsulinor from abnormalresistance to insulin's effectscoupled with inadequate levels of insulin secretion to compensate.The characteristic symptoms are excessive urine production (polyuria), excessive thirst and increased fluid intake (polydipsia), and blurred vision. These symptoms are likely absent if the blood sugar is only mildly elevated.
TheWorld Health Organizationrecognizes three main forms of diabetes mellitus:type 1,type 2, andgestational diabetes( occurring duringpregnancy),which have different causes and population distributions. While, ultimately, all forms are due to thebeta cellsof thepancreasbeing unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia, the causes are different.Type 1 diabetes is usually due toautoimmunedestruction of the pancreatic beta cells. Type 2 diabetes is characterized byinsulin resistancein target tissues. This causes a need for abnormally high amounts of insulin and diabetes develops when the beta cells cannot meet this demand. Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones ofpregnancycan cause insulin resistance in women genetically predisposed to developing this condition.
Gestational diabetes typically resolves with delivery of the child, however types 1 and 2 diabetes arechronic conditions.All types have been treatable sinceinsulinbecame medically available in 1921. Type 1 diabetes, in which insulin is not secreted by the pancreas, is directly treatable only with injected or inhaled insulin, although dietary and other lifestyle adjustments are part of management. Type 2 may be managed with a combination ofdietary treatment,tablets and injectionsand, frequently, insulin supplementation. While insulin was originally produced from natural sources such as porcine pancreas, most insulin used today is produced through genetic engineering, either as a direct copy of human insulin, or human insulin with modified molecules that provide different onset and duration of action. Insulin can also be delivered continuously by a specialized pump which subcutaneously provides insulin through a changeable catheter.
Diabetes can cause many complications.Acutecomplications (hypoglycemia,ketoacidosisornonketotic hyperosmolar coma) may occur if the disease is not adequately controlled. Serious long-term complications includecardiovascular disease(doubled risk),chronic renal failure,retinal damage(which can lead toblindness),nerve damage(of several kinds), and microvascular damage, which may causeimpotenceand poor healing. Poor healing of wounds, particularly of the feet, can lead togangrene, which may requireamputation. Adequate treatment of diabetes, as well as increased emphasis onblood pressurecontrol and lifestyle factors (such as notsmokingand keeping a healthybody weight), may improve the risk profile of most aforementioned complications. In the developed world, diabetes is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly, the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults, anddiabetic nephropathyis the main illness requiringrenal dialysis.
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Diabetes mellitus often simply diabetes (Greek: διαβήτης), is asyndromecharacterized by disorderedmetabolismand inappropriately highblood sugar(hyperglycaemia) resulting from either low levels of thehormoneinsulinor from abnormalresistance to insulin's effectscoupled with inadequate levels of insulin secretion to compensate.The characteristic symptoms are excessive urine production (polyuria), excessive thirst and increased fluid intake (polydipsia), and blurred vision. These symptoms are likely absent if the blood sugar is only mildly elevated.
TheWorld Health Organizationrecognizes three main forms of diabetes mellitus:type 1,type 2, andgestational diabetes( occurring duringpregnancy),which have different causes and population distributions. While, ultimately, all forms are due to thebeta cellsof thepancreasbeing unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia, the causes are different.Type 1 diabetes is usually due toautoimmunedestruction of the pancreatic beta cells. Type 2 diabetes is characterized byinsulin resistancein target tissues. This causes a need for abnormally high amounts of insulin and diabetes develops when the beta cells cannot meet this demand. Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones ofpregnancycan cause insulin resistance in women genetically predisposed to developing this condition.
Gestational diabetes typically resolves with delivery of the child, however types 1 and 2 diabetes arechronic conditions.All types have been treatable sinceinsulinbecame medically available in 1921. Type 1 diabetes, in which insulin is not secreted by the pancreas, is directly treatable only with injected or inhaled insulin, although dietary and other lifestyle adjustments are part of management. Type 2 may be managed with a combination ofdietary treatment,tablets and injectionsand, frequently, insulin supplementation. While insulin was originally produced from natural sources such as porcine pancreas, most insulin used today is produced through genetic engineering, either as a direct copy of human insulin, or human insulin with modified molecules that provide different onset and duration of action. Insulin can also be delivered continuously by a specialized pump which subcutaneously provides insulin through a changeable catheter.
Diabetes can cause many complications.Acutecomplications (hypoglycemia,ketoacidosisornonketotic hyperosmolar coma) may occur if the disease is not adequately controlled. Serious long-term complications includecardiovascular disease(doubled risk),chronic renal failure,retinal damage(which can lead toblindness),nerve damage(of several kinds), and microvascular damage, which may causeimpotenceand poor healing. Poor healing of wounds, particularly of the feet, can lead togangrene, which may requireamputation. Adequate treatment of diabetes, as well as increased emphasis onblood pressurecontrol and lifestyle factors (such as notsmokingand keeping a healthybody weight), may improve the risk profile of most aforementioned complications. In the developed world, diabetes is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly, the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults, anddiabetic nephropathyis the main illness requiringrenal dialysis.