What is Diabetes? What causes Diabetes?

Diabetes, often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic

diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin
production is inadequate, or because the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both.
Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience polyuria (frequent urination), they will
become increasingly thirsty (polydipsia) and hungry (polyphagia).

Fast facts on diabetes

Here are some key points about diabetes. More detail and supporting information is in the main
article.

Diabetes is a long-term condition that causes high blood sugar levels.

In 2013 it was estimated that over 382 million people throughout the world had diabetes

(Williams textbook of endocrinology).

Type 1 Diabetes - the body does not produce insulin. Approximately 10% of all diabetes
cases are type 1.

Type 2 Diabetes - the body does not produce enough insulin for proper function.
Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of this type.

Gestational Diabetes - this type affects females during pregnancy.

The most common diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, intense thirst and
hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal, male sexual
dysfunction, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.

If you have Type 1 and follow a healthy eating plan, do adequate exercise, and take
insulin, you can lead a normal life.

Type 2 patients need to eat healthily, be physically active, and test their blood glucose.
They may also need to take oral medication, and/or insulin to control blood glucose levels.

As the risk of cardiovascular disease is much higher for a diabetic, it is crucial that blood
pressure and cholesterol levels are monitored regularly.

As smoking might have a serious effect on cardiovascular health, diabetics should stop
smoking.

Hypoglycemia - low blood glucose - can have a bad effect on the patient. Hyperglycemia
- when blood glucose is too high - can also have a bad effect on the patient.

There are three types of diabetes:

1) Type 1 Diabetes
The body does not produce insulin. Some people may refer to this type as insulin-dependent
diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes. People usually develop type 1 diabetes
before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or teenage years.
Type 1 diabetes is nowhere near as common as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 10% of all
diabetes cases are type 1.
Patients with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections for the rest of their life. They must
also ensure proper blood-glucose levels by carrying out regular blood tests and following a
special diet.
Between 2001 and 2009, the prevalence of type 1 diabetes among the under 20s in the USA
rose 23%, according toSEARCH for Diabetes in Youth data issued by the CDC (Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention). (Link to article)

2) Type 2 Diabetes
The body does not produce enough insulin for proper function, or the cells in the body do not
react to insulin (insulin resistance).
Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of this type.

Me
asuring the glucose level in blood

Some people may be able to control their type 2 diabetes symptoms by losing weight, following a
healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise, and monitoring their blood glucose levels. However, type 2

diabetes is typically a progressive disease - it gradually gets worse - and the patient will probably
end up have to take insulin, usually in tablet form.
Overweight and obese people have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared
to those with a healthy body weight. People with a lot of visceral fat, also known as central
obesity, belly fat, or abdominal obesity, are especially at risk. Being overweight/obese causes the
body to release chemicals that can destabilize the body's cardiovascular and metabolic systems.
Being overweight, physically inactive and eating the wrong foods all contribute to our risk of
developing type 2 diabetes. Drinking just one can of (non-diet) soda per day can raise our risk of
developing type 2 diabetes by 22%, researchers from Imperial College London reported in the
journal Diabetologia. The scientists believe that the impact of sugary soft drinks on diabetes risk
may be a direct one, rather than simply an influence on body weight.
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is also greater as we get older. Experts are not completely
sure why, but say that as we age we tend to put on weight and become less physically active.
Those with a close relative who had/had type 2 diabetes, people of Middle Eastern, African, or
South Asian descent also have a higher risk of developing the disease.
Men whose testosterone levels are low have been found to have a higher risk of developing type
2 diabetes. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, say that low testosterone
levels are linked to insulin resistance. (Link to article)

3) Gestational Diabetes
This type affects females during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in
their blood, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose
into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose.
Diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made during pregnancy.
The majority of gestational diabetes patients can control their diabetes with exercise and diet.
Between 10% to 20% of them will need to take some kind of blood-glucose-controlling
medications. Undiagnosed or uncontrolled gestational diabetes can raise the risk of
complications during childbirth. The baby may be bigger than he/she should be.
Scientists from the National Institutes of Health and Harvard University found that women whose
diets before becoming pregnant were high in animal fat and cholesterol had a higher risk for
gestational diabetes, compared to their counterparts whose diets were low in cholesterol and
animal fats. (Link to article)

What Is Prediabetes?
The vast majority of patients with type 2 diabetes initially had prediabetes. Their blood glucose
levels where higher than normal, but not high enough to merit a diabetes diagnosis. The cells in
the body are becoming resistant to insulin.
Studies have indicated that even at the prediabetes stage, some damage to the circulatory
system and the heart may already have occurred.

Diabetes Is A Metabolism Disorder

Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is classed as a metabolism disorder. Metabolism refers to the way
our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. Most of what we eat is broken down into
glucose. Glucose is a form of sugar in the blood - it is the principal source of fuel for our bodies.
When our food is digested, the glucose makes its way into our bloodstream. Our cells use the
glucose for energy and growth. However, glucose cannot enter our cells without insulin being
present - insulin makes it possible for our cells to take in the glucose.
Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. After eating, the pancreas automatically
releases an adequate quantity of insulin to move the glucose present in our blood into the cells,
as soon as glucose enters the cells blood-glucose levels drop.

A person with diabetes has a condition in which the quantity of glucose in

the blood is too elevated (hyperglycemia). This is because the body either
does not produce enough insulin, produces no insulin, or has cells that do
not respond properly to the insulin the pancreas produces. This results in
too much glucose building up in the blood. This excess blood glucose
eventually passes out of the body in urine. So, even though the blood has
plenty of glucose, the cells are not getting it for their essential energy and
growth requirements.

Diabetes symptoms:
Early symptoms of diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, can be subtle or seemingly
harmless if you have symptoms at all. Over time, however, you may develop
diabetes complications, even if you haven't had diabetes symptoms.
In the United States alone, nearly 7 million people have undiagnosed diabetes,
according to the American Diabetes Association. But you don't need to become a
statistic. Understanding possible diabetes symptoms can lead to early diagnosis and
treatment and a lifetime of better health. If you're experiencing any of the following
diabetes signs and symptoms, see your doctor.

Excessive thirst and increased urination

Excessive thirst and increased urination are classic diabetes symptoms.
When you have diabetes, excess sugar (glucose) builds up in your blood. Your
kidneys are forced to work overtime to filter and absorb the excess sugar. If your
kidneys can't keep up, the excess sugar is excreted into your urine along with fluids
drawn from your tissues. This triggers more frequent urination, which may leave you
dehydrated. As you drink more fluids to quench your thirst, you'll urinate even more

Fatigue
You may feel fatigued. Many factors can contribute to this. They include dehydration
from increased urination and your body's inability to function properly, since it's less
able to use sugar for energy needs.

Weight loss
Weight fluctuations also fall under the umbrella of possible diabetes signs and
symptoms. When you lose sugar through frequent urination, you also lose calories.
At the same time, diabetes may keep the sugar from your food from reaching your
cells leading to constant hunger. The combined effect is potentially rapid weight
loss, especially if you have type 1 diabetes.

Blurred vision
Diabetes symptoms sometimes involve your vision. High levels of blood sugar pull
fluid from your tissues, including the lenses of your eyes. This affects your ability to
focus.
Left untreated, diabetes can cause new blood vessels to form in your retina the
back part of your eye and damage established vessels. For most people, these
early changes do not cause vision problems. However, if these changes progress
undetected, they can lead to vision loss and blindness.