Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes, is a medical condition associated with abnormally high levels of glucose (or sugar) in the blood (hyperglycaemia).
- Glucose is a type of sugar found in certain foods such as honey and some, but not all, fruits. It is also the form of sugar that all sugary and starchy foods are converted to in the body after digestion. Glucose is used by the body to make energy.
- Normally, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a chemical signalling substance (hormone) that is produced by a gland near your stomach called the pancreas.
- Insulin lowers the blood glucose level because it stimulates the body to make use of glucose.
- When the amount of glucose in the blood increases, for example, after eating food, insulin is released from the pancreas to normalise the glucose level. However, in patients with diabetes mellitus, the elevated glucose levels cannot be normalised. This causes abnormally high levels of blood glucose, which ultimately leads to the presence of glucose in the urine (glucosuria).
Diabetes is a chronic health condition where the body is unable to produce insulin and properly break down sugar (glucose) in the blood. Symptoms include hunger, thirst, excessive urination, dehydration and weight loss. The treatment of diabetes requires daily insulin injections, proper nutrition and regular exercise.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.
There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.
If you have diabetes, know someone who does, or simply want to learn more about diabetes, you will find many helpful articles in this section. You can learn about the types of diabetes, living with and managing diabetes and information on diabetes around the world. |