Diabetes mellitus (commonly referred to as diabetes) is a disorder in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high. In a person with diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar) or responds inappropriately to insulin. The 2 types of diabetes mellitus are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes, is a disorder in which the levels of sugar (also called glucose) in the blood are elevated because of problems related to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps the body maintain appropriate blood sugar levels. Insulin enables blood sugar to be transferred into cells. Once inside the cells, sugar is converted to energy, which is either used immediately or is stored until needed. In patients with diabetes mellitus, the levels of sugar in the blood are too high because not enough insulin is produced (type 1 diabetes) or the body becomes resistant to insulin (type 2 diabetes). With both types of diabetes, blood sugar is unable to enter the cells to provide the fuel needed to function properly, leading to problems with basic metabolism of the cells and the body as a whole.
In type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed. As a result, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes usually develops before age 30.
In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but the body develops resistance to the effects of insulin (insulin resistance). When insulin resistance occurs, glucose cannot enter the cells. As a result, increased levels of glucose circulate in the blood (hyperglycemia). To compensate, the pancreas produces more insulin and the cells become even more insulin resistant. Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes typically occurs in people older than 30 and becomes more common with age. Obesity and family history are two main risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes mellitus include frequent urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, and drowsiness. Complications of diabetes include heart attack, stroke, vision problems, kidney failure, poor circulation, and foot ulcers that are slow to heal.
By regulating blood sugar under the guidance of a physician, symptoms of diabetes mellitus can be controlled and complications can be slowed, delayed, or even prevented.
