People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Gestational diabetes also involves a combination of inadequate insulin secretion and responsiveness, resembling type 2 diabetes in several respects. It develops during pregnancy and may improve or disappear after delivery. Insulin is called the “hunger hormone .

Causes of Diabetes Mellitus

Glucose into most cells from the blood (primarily muscle and fat cells, but not central nervous system cells), deficiency of insulin or the insensitivity of its receptors plays a central role in all forms of diabetes mellitus. Much of the carbohydrate in food is converted within a few hours to the monosaccharide glucose, the principal carbohydrate found in blood. Type 1 diabetes mellitus—formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), childhood diabetes or also known as juvenile diabetes, is characterized by loss of the insulin-producing beta cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas leading to a deficiency of insulin. The main cause of beta cell loss leading to type 1 diabetes is a T-cell mediated autoimmune attack. Type 2 diabetes mellitus—previously known as adult-onset diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes.

Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus

1.Drowsiness.

2.Nausea.

3.Decreased endurance during exercise

Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

Person with diabetes keeps blood sugar levels tightly controlled, complications are less likely to develop. People with diabetes should always carry or wear a medical identification bracelet or tag to alert health care professionals to the presence of diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes who are able to maintain a healthy weight may be able to avoid the need for large doses of insulin. People with diabetes also tend to have high levels of cholesterol in the blood, so limiting the amount of saturated fat in the diet is important. Drugs may also be needed to help control the level of cholesterol in the blood. Diet management is very important in people with both types of diabetes. Doctors recommend a healthy, balanced diet and efforts to maintain a healthy weight. Some people benefit from meeting with a dietitian to develop an optimal eating plan. Diabetic ketoacidosis is also a medical emergency, because it can cause coma and death. Oral medications are available to lower blood glucose in Type II diabetics include tolbutamide, tolazamide, acetohexamide, and chlorpropamide.

Patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus may urinate excessively (polyuria) and become thirsty because the glucose filtered into the kidneys has the tendency to pull water with it. They may experience increased appetite and weight loss; the absence of functioning insulin prevents cells from obtaining the carbohydrates they need and allows muscle and fat to break down. Muscle cramping and fatigue may also occur.

Types of diabetes

The two main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children and young adults and is considered an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body’s system for fighting infection (the immune system) turns against a part of the body.

A combination of abnormalities is responsible for type 2 diabetes. The first is probably insulin resistance, a condition in which body cells become less responsive to insulin. Therefore, the body must secrete more insulin to maintain normal metabolism. Insulin resistance, which is very common, doesn’t cause type 2 diabetes by itself.

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Gestational Diabetes is a form of Type 2 diabetes that begins during pregnancy, often near the end of the second trimester or during the third trimester. It is caused by the hormones of pregnancy or by a shortage of insulin. It affects 7% of all pregnancies and over 200,000 women a year in the U.S. Although this form of diabetes tends to go away after the baby is born, type 2 diabetes is more likely later in life.

Pre-Diabetes

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have pre-diabetes; blood glucose (sugar) levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and for having heart disease and stroke. Many people are unaware that they have pre-diabetes, because it usually has no symptoms.