diabetes mellitus

diabetes mellitus A chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood and urine. Absence of, insufficient production of, or autoimmune resistance to the pancreatic hormone insulin causes diabetes. Insulin provides the body with a natural method for oxidizing glucose to provide energy; without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream to dangerous levels. The tendency to develop diabetes runs in families, but not all patients have such a family history. Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, increased appetite and thirst, unexplained weight loss or fluctuation, and fatigue. Diabetes mellitus is diagnosed through blood sugar testing. Major complications include dangerously elevated blood sugar levels, abnormally low blood sugar levels due to incorrect dosing of diabetes medications, and disease of the blood vessels, which can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. Circulation problems due to blood vessel damage may also endanger the patient’s feet and legs. When the body cannot use glucose for energy because of inadequate insulin in diabetes, it turns to burning fat as energy. This process creates compounds called ketones. If the blood level of ketones gets too high, the result is a dangerous condition called ketosis that, if unchecked, can cause lethargy, convulsions, coma, and death. Treatment depends on the type of diabetes. Diet is always the primary treatment. Many patients take medications that help to regulate their production and use of insulin. Others may need insulin injections, either selfadministered via syringe or, more recently, via an almost-painless “gun” device, an external insulin pump, or an internally implanted insulin pump. There are two forms of diabetes mellitus, type 1 (insulin requiring) and type 2 (non-insulin requiring). Approximately 10 percent of the patients with diabetes mellitus have type 1 diabetes; the remaining 90 percent have type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is commonly referred to as diabetes, though technically there are two forms of diabetes, diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus, which are distinctly different conditions, both of which are characterized by the excessive production of dilute urine. See also diabetes, type 1; diabetes, type 2.