Diabetes mellitus type 2: One monster eating all

ABSTRACT Diabetes has been considered as the most dreaded non-communicable disease consuming the mankind rapidly. WHO has predicted the number of diabetics to be approximately 366 millions by 2030. The disease is characterized by hyperglycemia and the basic symptoms are polyphagia, polydipsia and polyuria. The autoimmune type 1 diabetes represent almost 1% of the total diabetic population, the rest being that of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Type 2 diabetes has been linked to a variety of factors such as heredity, environmental factors, unhealthy eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, stress etc. The uncontrolled hyperglycemia has profound deleterious effects on almost all the organs and results in various cardiovascular disorders, retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy. Recent studies have revealed an array of pulmonary dysfunctions related with T2D ranging from respiratory defects to tuberculosis. Diabetes also predisposes the person to hepatic dysfunctions like NAFLD and HCC and a range of infections at various sites which are difficult to manage. Post-surgical infections are of special interest for subjects with uncontrolled hyperglycemia prior to surgery. Scientists all over the world are revealing different pathways and associated therapies for diabetes in order to control a monster which is destroying almost whole body physiology.