Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus ("sugar diabetes") is a metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels, where the body is not able to control the amount of glucose in the blood. First symptoms include excessive thirst, increased production of urine and abnormal fatigue. Treatment is essential since diabetes left uncontrolled can lead to long-term damage to the vascular and circulatory system and cause the so-called "diabetic foot", heart attacks and strokes. An inadequate treatment of diabetes can also damage the nerves and eyes (as far as going blind) and lead to kidney failure.

There are two basic types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes

This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes. It is due to damage to certain parts of the pancreas (pancreatic insufficiency). A reason for this is that the body generates an immune response against itself (autoimmune disease). Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas and responsible for helping the cells take in glucose and convert it to energy. The absence or insufficient production of insulin results in a poor absorption of glucose and leads to elevated levels of blood glucose. This type of diabetes is treated with regular insulin shots.

Type 2 diabetes

This so-called adult-onset diabetes usually occurs with advanced age. The body's cells which should respond to the insulin, resist its actions, become sluggish and do not respond sufficiently. This is usually due to elevated levels of blood glucose over many years, resulting in a resistance to the action of insulin in the body's cells. This phenomenon frequently occurs in overweight people. The amount of insulin available is less than the individual requires (i.e. there is a relative lack of insulin). This type of diabetes is managed effectively through weight reduction or a diabetic diet, oral medications that decrease the blood glucose levels or, if required, insulin medications.