Diabetes Mellitus is a group of diseases characterized by one
feature: High blood sugar.
Diabetes is medically known as diabetes mellitus, from the Greek diabetes -
flowing through, and the Latin mellitus - sweet like honey. This is because the
glucose appears in the urine.
It is characterized by high blood sugar or hyperglycemia, which can lead to
damage of the eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart, and blood vessels.
There are several types of diabetes. Type 1 is characterized by the
destruction of beta cells in the pancreas responsible for making insulin, due to
an autoimmune process. This results in complete insulin deficiency. The onset
occurs within the period of a few days or weeks, and 95% of cases occur prior to
age 25. About the same number of males as females get the disease.
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance. Insulin is
responsible for ushering glucose into the cells to use as food. When the cells
do not respond to the insulin and glucose levels rise in the blood, the pancreas
makes even more insulin which results in hyperinsulinemia which eventually leads
to glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia. Plus, the overworked beta cells of the
pancreas become exhausted, making the problem worse. Type 2 diabetes is more
common in women and older age.
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