Understanding Diabetes: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Management
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. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst, and appetite. If left untreated, diabetes can cause many complications.
Acute complications can include diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, or death. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, foot ulcers, damage to the nerves, damage to the eyes and cognitive impairment.
Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or the cells of the body not responding properly to the insulin being produced.
There are four main types of diabetes:
Diabetes Type 1 results from the pancreas's failure to produce enough insulin due to the 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.
Diabetes Type 2 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.
Diabetes Type 3 is a proposed term to describe the interlinked association between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
Gestational Diabetes is the fourth main form and occurs in pregnant women without a previous history of diabetes who develop high blood sugar levels.
