Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly due to insulin.

What goes wrong in diabetes?

When you have diabetes, the finely tune system that regulates blood glucose fails because you don’t produce insulin (hormone that helps to control glucose in the body), or you don’t produce enough of it or your body is resistant to insulin. As a result, glucose cannot pass into your cells to be burned for energy, so it builds up in the blood. This leads to an abnormally high blood glucose level.

How does the healthy Body use glucose?

When you eat carbohydrate foods such as bread, rice, potatoes, cereals or sugar, they are broken down into glucose during digestion. Glucose moves from the intestines into the bloodstream and then enters the body cells where it is burned as fuel- it gives energy to your entire body, from the muscles to the brain, and is the body’s primary source of energy. Glucose is also stored in the liver and muscles in the form of glycogen

What are the types of diabetes?

Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. It is treated by insulin injections and diet, and regular exercise is recommended.

Type 2 (non insulin dependent) diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though often appears before the age of 40 in many people due to diet and lifestyle. It is treated by diet and exercise alone or by diet, exercise and tablets or by diet, exercise and insulin injections.

Gestational diabetes:

This type of diabetes may develop around the 28th week (six month) of pregnancy and is the only temporary form of diabetes. It disappears after delivery of the baby. However, people that have this type of diabetes are at risk of diabetes in the future.

Factor affecting diabetes?

Diabetes has no single cause, but may be caused by a combination of any of the following inherited and environmental factors:

Genetic heredity

Overweight and obesity

Body shape

Ethnic background

Pregnancy medications Viral infections

Damage to the pancreas


How do you recognize if you have diabetes?

It is more common to notice the symptoms of a high blood glucose level if you have type 1 diabetes, as the absence of insulin has a dramatic effect on your body. If you have type 2 diabetes, you still produce some insulin, so your symptoms may be less severe- you may even attribute them to growing older. For example, you may feel it’s normal to feel tired, or to get up at night to pass urine.

Occasionally with type 2, there are no symptoms at all and diabetes may not be suspected until you have a routine medical or eye test that reveals early signs of long –term complications.

The following are all symptoms of diabetes:

1. Passing Large Amounts Of Urine Frequently

2. Dry Mouth, Excessive Thirst

3. Lack Of Energy/Tiredness

4. Unintentional Weight Loss

5. Blurred Vision

6. Fruity Smelling Breath

7. Thrush And Cystitis.........

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