Diabetes Mellitus


Diabetes mellitus is more commonly know as diabetes. Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic form of diabetes. It is also a metabolic disorder. In fact diabetes mellitus is not one but a group of diseases. The main cause of diabetes mellitus is either low secretion of insulin or the cells resisting insulin or because of these reasons.

Diabetes MellitusIn antiquity, people associated diabetes with sweet urine and muscle loss. The sweet urine is caused due to sugar in our body coming out with urine. As diabetes results in high sugar levels in the blood, the kidneys need to overwork to absorb the excess sugar in blood. And sometimes this sugar comes out with urine. Generally, insulin (a hormone secreted by the pancreas) regulates the glucose or sugar level in our blood. Insulin is also responsible to bring sugar to the cells as sugar is the main fuel required by cells. The cause of high sugar level could either be because the pancreas is not able to secrete the required amount of insulin or because the secreted insulin is not able to bring upon the required effect.

Due to the high level of sugar in blood, the fluid in body tissues is drained out. This in turn affects our eyes and skins. And hence diabetics may have blurry vision and dry skin. Other long term ailments that may occur due to diabetes are problems of the heart and kidneys. Even the nervous system is affected in log term and it could happen that the sensation of pain lessens with years. In the sense that the ability to sense pain lessens with the number of years one is suffering with diabetes.

The different types of diabetes are:

1. Type 1 diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile diabetes

2. Type 2 diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult onset diabetes.

3. Another reason why diabetes can occur is when the pancreas (which is responsible in secreting the hormone insulin) is destroyed by another disease. Such diabetes is called secondary diabetes.

Though it may look scary, a diabetic can also live a long and happy life. All that is required is a little moderation. That is, a diabetic needs to exercise at least for 40 to 50 minutes a day and regulate his/her food intake. This is only the initial treatment. Oral medication may follow if the high sugar level blood is not brought down to normal ranges by the initial treatment. With proper care one can lead as normal a life as possible.