What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus includes a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia, which is attributable to insulin deficiency and/or insulin resistance.
Diabetes appears to manifest itself when the body does not properly use or create enough insulin. Insulin is the hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into the energy. When your insulin levels are not right, your blood sugar builds up too high.

Diabetes mellitus leads to a wide range of complications. When poorly controlled, it can contribute to significant morbidity and mortality.

Types of Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin. Insulin is the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them.

Type 2 Diabetes results from insulin resistance. This is a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin, combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. This is often referred to as adult-onset diabetes. 

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes some women get during pregnancy.

Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus

• Excessive and frequent urination, sometimes as often as every hour
• Excessive thirst
• Increased hunger
• Unintended weight loss
• Weakness and fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Numbness or a tingling sensation in the hands and feet
• Recurring infections, such as urinary tract and vaginal yeast infections
• Slow healing of cuts and wounds
• Erectile dysfunction in men

Causes of Diabetes Mellitus

Risk Factors for Diabetes 1

• Genetics
• Exposure to milk bovine proteins
• Fetal or childhood coxsackie virus and enteroviral infections
• Birth weight greater than 4500 grams
• Preeclampsia
• Maternal age greater than 25 years
• ABO incompatibility-induced jaundice 

Risk Factors for Diabetes 2

• Genetics
• Older age
• Abdominal obesity
• History of gestational diabetes
• Hypertension and dyslipidemia
• Ethnic background (African Americans, Latinos, American Indian/Alaska natives, and Asians and pacific islanders)

Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes

• History of type 2 diabetes
• Previous abnormal oral glucose tolerance test
• Glucocorticoid use during pregnancy
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Age greater than 25
• Pregnancy weight 10% above ideal body weight
• Early post pubescent weight gain
• Previous child with birth weight greater than 9 pounds
• Previous idiopathic perinatal death or birth defect
• Maternal birth weight greater than 9 pounds or less than 6 pounds

Treatment and Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus

Prevention of Diabetes Type One

• Breast feed
• Avoid early introduction of cow's milk
• Avoid early introduction of gluten-containing foods

Prevention of Diabetes Type Two

• Improve your diet
• Poor diet is the largest cause of type 2 diabetes

Prevention of Gestational Diabetes

• Improve your diet
• Poor diet is the largest cause of type 2 diabetes