Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Commonly Known As Diabetes, Is A Group of Metabolic

Diabetes mellitus (DM), commonly known as diabetes, is a group of metabolic
disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level over a prolonged period of time

Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or the cells of the body not
responding properly to the insulin produced.There are three main types of diabetes mellitus:
 Type 1 diabetes results from the pancreas's failure to produce enough insulin due to loss
of beta cells. This form was previously referred to as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus"
(IDDM) or "juvenile diabetes".The loss of beta cells is caused by an autoimmune response. The
cause of this autoimmune response is unknown.
 Type 2 diabetes begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to respond to
insulin properly. As the disease progresses, a lack of insulin may also develop. This form was
previously referred to as "non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (NIDDM) or "adult-onset
diabetes". The most common cause is a combination of excessive body weight and insufficient
exercise.
 Gestational diabetes is the third main form, and occurs when pregnant women without a
previous history of diabetes develop high blood sugar levels.
Symptoms
Diabetes symptoms vary depending on how much your blood sugar is elevated. Some people,
especially those with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, may not experience symptoms initially. In type 1
diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe.
Some of the signs and symptoms of diabetes are:
 Increased thirst(polydipsia)
 Frequent urination(polyuria)
 Extreme hunger(polyphagia)
 Unexplained weight loss
 Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat
that happens when there's not enough available insulin)
 Fatigue
 Irritability
 Blurred vision
 Slow-healing sores
 Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and vaginal infections
 Pricking pain in foot
Type 1
This type usually starts in childhood. The pancreas stops making insulin. The main things that lead to
it are:
 Family history. Anyone who has a mother, father, sister, or brother with type 1
diabetes should get checked. A simple blood test can diagnose it.
 Diseases of the pancreas. They can slow its ability to make insulin.
 Infection or illness. Some infections and illnesses, mostly rare ones, can damage the pancreas.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 usually affects adults, but it can begin at any time in life. The main things that lead to it are:
 Obesity or being overweight- obesity can lead to diabetes because people with overweight

require high insulin production than the normal.
 Impaired glucose tolerance- Prediabetes is a milder form of this condition.
 Insulin resistance- Type 2 diabetes often starts with cells that are resistant to insulin. That means
your pancreas has to work extra hard to make enough insulin to meet your body's needs.
 Gestational diabetes.-In this case, diabetes occurs during pregnancy. This raises the chances of
getting type 2 diabetes later in life.
 Sedentary lifestyle.-Lack of exercise may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
 Family history-If parent or sibling has diabetes there is a chance of getting diabetes.
 Polycystic ovary syndrome- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher risk.
 Age- people over 45 yrs and overweight may have a chance of undergoing diabetes.
 High blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol is also reason for type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes
It's caused by hormones, the placenta or by too little insulin. High blood sugar from the mother causes
high blood sugar in the baby. That can lead to growth and development problems if left untreated.
Things that can lead to gestational diabetes include:
 Obesity or being overweight :Extra weight can lead to gestational diabetes.

 Glucose intolerance: Having glucose intolerance or gestational diabetes in the past makes the
person more likely to get it again.
 Family history: If a parent or sibling has had gestational diabetes, then the child also is more
likely to get it.
 Age: When people get pregnant in older years, the higher the chances are.
 Ethnic background: Nonwhite women have a greater chance of developing it.
Complications
Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually. The longer the diabetes — and the less
controlled your blood sugar — the higher the risk of complications. Eventually, diabetes
complications may be disabling or even life-threatening. Possible complications include:
 Cardiovascular disease
 Nerve damage (neuropathy)
 Kidney damage (nephropathy)
 Eye damage (retinopathy)
 Foot damage
 Skin problems
 Hearing impairment
 Alzheimer's disease
 Depression
Dietary treatment
Diet is a basic part of management in every case. Treatment cannot be effective unless adequate
attention is given to ensuring appropriate nutrition.
Dietary treatment should aim at:
— ensuring weight control
— providing nutritional requirements
— allowing good glycemic control with blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible
— correcting any associated blood lipid abnormalities
— ensuring consistency and compatibility with other forms of treatment if used, for example oral
agents or insulin.
The following principles are recommended as dietary guidelines for people with diabetes:
— Dietary fat should provide 25-35% of total intake of calories but saturated fat intake should not
exceed 10% of total energy. Cholesterol consumption should be restricted and limited to 300 mg or
less daily.
— Protein intake can range between 10-15% total energy (0.8-1 g/kg of desirable body weight).
Requirements increase for children and during pregnancy. Protein should be derived from both
animal and vegetable sources.
- Carbohydrates provide 50-60% of total caloric content of the diet. Although it has been traditionally
recommended that carbohydrates should be complex and high in fibre, more emphasis should be
placed on the total amount of carbohydrates consumed than the source of carbohydrate.
— Excessive salt intake is to be avoided. It should be particularly restricted in people with
hypertension and those with nephropathy.
— Artificial sweeteners are to be used in moderation. Nutritive sweeteners (sorbital and fructose)
should be restricted.
— The same precautions regarding alcohol intake that apply to the non-diabetic population also apply
to people with diabetes. Additionally, however, alcohol tends to increase the risk of hypoglycemia in
those taking anti-diabetic drugs and should be particularly avoided in those with lipid abnormalities
and patients with neuropathy.
— Except in special conditions like pregnancy and lactation, routine vitamin and mineral
supplementation is generally not needed in people with a well balanced diet. There is, at present, no
definite evidence to confirm that such treatment has any benefits.
Meal planning
— Assessment of dietary intake and individual needs of those with diabetes should be made as part of
the initial management.
— Meals and food intake should be planned in relation to economic factors and local circumstances
concerning availability and cultural and social values.
— Meals should be evenly distributed throughout the day. Consistency of food timing and energy
intake from day to day should be emphasized, especially by those taking insulin.
Exercise
Physical activity promotes weight reduction and improves insulin sensitivity, thus lowering blood
glucose levels. Together with dietary treatment, a programme of regular physical activity and
exercise should be considered for each person. Such a programme must be tailored to the individual’s
health status and fitness. People should, however, be educated about the potential risk of
hypoglycaemia and how to avoid it.

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Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Commonly Known As Diabetes, Is A Group of Metabolic

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Diabetes mellitus (DM), commonly known as diabetes, is a group of metabolic

disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level over a prolonged period of time

Some of the signs and symptoms of diabetes are:

 Obesity or being overweight- obesity can lead to diabetes because people with overweight

 Obesity or being overweight :Extra weight can lead to gestational diabetes.

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