Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus is a disease that occurs when the body is not able to maintain blood sugar levels. Our body uses sugar for growth and energy. The body gets sugar when it changes food into glucose in the blood by hormones produced by the pancreas and other digestive glands. Diabetes occurs when the body cannot make use of the glucose in the blood for energy because either the pancreas is not able to make enough insulin or the insulin that is available is not effectively moving sugar out of the blood. The body then tries to acquire energy from fats and proteins in the muscles and most of the blood sugar is lost in urination. Nerves in the eyes, feet and hands show symptoms of damage first.
Some of the common factors for diabetes include a history of gestational diabetes during pregnancy, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and a family history of diabetes. Diabetes is also more common in certain ethnic groups.
Major Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Formerly called juvenile diabetes. Type 1 is diagnosed in youth. Diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin. Complications of Type 1 diabetes can include retinal damage to the eyes, kidney failure, heart disease, and nerve damage.
Type 2 diabetes
Usually diagnosed in adults. Diabetes results from the body not producing enough insulin to convert all the sugar in the blood. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2. Many people are able to manage Type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise changes and pills rather than shots; however, if they do not manage the diabetes, it can lead to heart attacks, stroke, nerve damage, blindness and kidney failure.
Additional Information
Often diabetes goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Symptoms include general fatigue and weakness, blurred vision, tingling or numbness in feet or hands, extreme thirst, frequent urination and unexpected weight loss (weight loss is more common for Type 1). It is much harder to notice the symptoms for Type 2 diabetes so doctors often check blood sugar levels regularly in people who are over sixty years old, have excess weight or have a family history of diabetes. Extreme complications can lead to amputations of fingers and toes (more if not managed) and complete kidney failure. People whose kidneys no longer work must receive dialysis treatment and often wait for the opportunity for a transplant. A transplant of a functional kidney and pancreas (dual transplant) can cure diabetes but the person must take anti-rejection medicine for the rest of their life to prevent the body from attacking the new organs.
For more information on these symptoms, please visit:
Updated September, 2009 by Cassy Polen, Disability Program Navigator.