Diabetes mellitus is a disease which is characterized by abnormal blood glucose levels. It is caused due to abnormal glucose metabolism when the glucose in not utilized by the cells and gets accumulated in the blood. Normal glucose metabolism is dependent on the hormone insulin which is either deficient or is not produced in a patient of diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause serious complications which can often be life threatening.

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes is of two major types:

Type I or Insulin dependent: It is characterized by a lack of insulin production by the pancreas.

Type 2 or Non Insulin dependent: It is characterized by either a lack of insulin or a decreased sensitivity of body cells to insulin.

Common symptoms of Diabetes

Some of the characteristic symptoms of diabetes are as follows:

• The patient experiences increased thirst.
• There is an increase in the urinary frequency, especially during night.
• Patient may experience generalized fatigue and tiredness with no apparent cause.
• In uncontrolled cases, patient may experience loss of weight and muscle mass.

How is Diabetes diagnosed?

Since the symptoms of diabetes are very non specific, a case of type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed during a routine blood examination.

The diagnosis of diabetes is made by the measurement of fasting blood glucose level and a level of more than 120 mg/dl is taken as a diagnosis of diabetes. The diagnosis is further confirmed by the Oral glucose tolerance test in which a post prandial blood glucose level of 200 mg/dl is taken as a diagnosis of diabetes.

Management of Diabetes

There is no permanent cure of Diabetes; therefore, its management is mainly aimed at controlling the blood glucose levels to normal. Diabetes is controlled by a combination of diet, exercise and medications depending on the severity of the case.

Mild cases can be managed by following certain lifestyle modifications, dietary control and regular exercise regimen. Cases which cannot be controlled by life style measures require medications in the form of oral hypoglycemic drugs.

Type 1 diabetes cases require insulin for treatment which should be associated with proper dietary management.

Prognosis of Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition which requires control of blood glucose to normal levels. The prognosis is good if the blood glucose is constantly maintained at normal levels. However, if the condition is uncontrolled, it can lead to serious complications affecting major organs including stroke, heart disease, eye disease and disease of the nerves.