Introduction
Purpose of the food we eat is to provide nutrition and energy to the body. But Diabetes Mellitus is a condition wherein your body can't absorb or use the energy produced after consuming food. The diabetes mellitus symptoms are shown in human beings in only two terms as mentioned below:
The pancreas produces naturally occurring hormones like insulin which helps convert sugar for energy. In the case of diabetes mellitus, the pancreas creates nominal or no insulin.
In other cases, the insulin produced by the pancreas doesn't function normally.
About Diabetes Mellitus
To put simply, it is a disorder wherein someone’s body fails to produce sufficient insulin from pancreas or fails to make use of it to produce energy. As a result, your body has a high level of blood sugar which leaves adverse effects on your health. It is also considered a life-threatening disease and may cause other issues in the human body.
Primarily, these are divided into two classes, as shown below.
Types of Diabetes Mellitus
Besides these two, there can be several other kinds of diabetes mellitus caused by surgery, use of medicines, other illnesses, and conditions. One such type is Gestational diabetes which occurs in case a pregnant woman with no history of diabetes starts showing this symptom. Therefore, pregnant women over the age of 35, having a family history of diabetes, or overweight individuals have a high chance of developing dm symptoms.
Main Symptoms of Diabetes
Most common symptoms shown by diabetes mellitus patients are listed below.
Feeling hungry even after eating.
Increased feeling of thirst.
Frequent urination.
Fatigue.
Weight loss.
Healing a wound or cut takes time.
Blurred vision.
Urine or yeast infections.
Dry & itchy skin.
These are a few diabetes mellitus type 2 symptoms which a patient may show in case their body stops creating insulin or doesn't produce sufficient insulin. In either case, the patient needs to seek immediate medical attention so that their health can recover.
Test Your Knowledge
1. Choose the Appropriate Risk Factor Concerning Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Dietary fat intake in a considerable amount
Overweight
Family history with diabetes
All of the above
2. Choose the most Suitable Option which Distinguishes Between Type 2 and Type 1 Diabetes.
Patients having type 1 diabetes can quickly develop chronic disorders.
Oral hypoglycemic agents can be taken to increase endogenous insulin production in type 1 diabetes patients.
Type 2 diabetes patients need a lower dose of insulin compared to the ones with type 1 because it's a milder type.
In the case of type 1 pathogenesis, autoimmune factors are present, which isn't the case with type 2.
Treatment for Diabetes Mellitus
Time to time diagnosis of blood sugar levels.
Having a diet plan according to your blood sugar level.
Regular exercise.
Medications and injections as recommended by physicians.
Therefore, it is possible to control the blood sugar levels of a patient by undergoing the right kind of treatment. Now that you have learnt the clinical features of diabetes mellitus, you will be able to answer even tricky questions quickly. To get more comprehensive knowledge about the subject, download Vedantu's app and accelerate your learning process.
Risk Factors of Diabetes
The factors that raise your risk vary depending on the kind of diabetes you eventually acquire are:
Having a Type 1 diabetes family history either to your parents or siblings.
Autoantibodies are present in your system. Autoantibodies are antibodies that erroneously target the tissues or organs of your own body.
Any type of physical stress such as illness or surgery.
Exposure to viruses-caused diseases.
The Following are Some of the Risk Factors For Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes:
A family history of prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes.
Being Overweight.
High Blood Pressure
Physically Inactive
Having a low HDL cholesterol level and a high triglyceride level.
Having a family history of cardiovascular disease or heart stroke.
Having gestational diabetes or having a baby that weighs more than 9 pounds.
Risk Factors For Gestational Diabetes Include:
The Family history of prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes.
Being overweight before your pregnancy.
Being over 25 years of age.
What causes Diabetes?
Diabetes, irrespective of type, is caused by having too much glucose circulating in your blood. The cause of your increased blood glucose levels differs depending on the kind of diabetes you have:
Type 1 Diabetes - This is a disease of the immune system. Insulin-producing cells in your pancreas are attacked and destroyed by your body. If you don't have enough insulin to let glucose into your cells, it builds up in your bloodstream. Genes may also have a role in some cases. A virus can also cause an immune system attack.
Type 2 and Prediabetes - Insulin does not function properly in your body's cells, preventing glucose from entering them. Insulin resistance has formed in the cells of your body. Your pancreas can't keep up with insulin requirements and can't produce enough to overcome the resistance. Glucose levels in the bloodstream grow.
Gestational Diabetes - During pregnancy, hormones generated by the placenta make your body's cells more resistant to insulin. Your pancreas is unable to make sufficient insulin to overcome this resistance. There is an excessive amount of glucose in your bloodstream.
How is Diabetes Managed and Treated?
Diabetes affects every part of your body. You'll need to take steps to keep your risk factors under control and within normal ranges if you want to properly manage diabetes, such as:
Following a healthy meal plan. Follow a Mediterranean or Dash diet, which includes vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and healthy fats. These diets are high in fibre and nutrients, yet low in fats and calories. Consult a professional nutritionist for help with nutrition and meal planning.
On most days of the week, try to exercise for at least 30 minutes. Take a walk, swim, or engage in another activity or sport that you like.
If you are overweight, you must lose weight. Develop a weight-loss strategy with the help of an expert.
Taking medicine and insulin as recommended and according to the instructions on how and when to take them.
Keep track of your blood sugar and blood pressure at home.
Maintaining regular contact with your doctor and completing laboratory testing as directed by your doctor.
FAQs on Diabetes Mellitus
1. What is Diabetes Mellitus and how is it clinically diagnosed?
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by high blood glucose levels, a condition known as hyperglycemia. This occurs either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or because the body's cells do not respond effectively to the insulin produced. Diagnosis is typically confirmed through blood tests that measure glucose levels, such as the Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test, the Post-Prandial Glucose (PPG) test, or the HbA1c test, which provides an average blood sugar level over the past few months.
2. How does insulin normally regulate blood glucose, and what goes wrong in Diabetes Mellitus?
Insulin, a hormone produced by the β-cells of the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, acts like a key to unlock body cells, allowing glucose from the bloodstream to enter and be used for energy. This lowers blood glucose levels. In Diabetes Mellitus, this system fails. In Type 1, the body produces little to no insulin (the 'key' is missing). In Type 2, the body's cells become resistant to insulin's effects (the 'lock' is broken). In both cases, glucose remains trapped in the bloodstream, leading to hyperglycemia.
3. What are the main types of Diabetes Mellitus as per the CBSE syllabus?
The two primary types of Diabetes Mellitus discussed in the curriculum are:
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: An autoimmune condition where the body's immune system destroys the insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas. This results in an absolute deficiency of insulin and requires lifelong insulin therapy. It is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The more common form, characterised by insulin resistance, where cells fail to use insulin properly, combined with a relative insulin deficiency. It is strongly associated with lifestyle factors like obesity and inactivity and is also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).
4. How does Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus differ from Type 2 in terms of its cause and onset?
The primary differences lie in their origin and development:
Cause: Type 1 is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own pancreatic cells. In contrast, Type 2 is a metabolic disorder primarily driven by insulin resistance and influenced by genetic and lifestyle factors.
Onset: Type 1 usually has a rapid and abrupt onset, often diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood. Type 2 develops gradually over many years, with symptoms appearing slowly, and is typically diagnosed in adulthood, although it is increasingly seen in younger individuals.
5. What are the classic symptoms of hyperglycemia in a person with Diabetes Mellitus?
The classic symptoms, often called the '3 Ps', are direct consequences of high blood sugar. These include:
Polyuria: Frequent and excessive urination.
Polydipsia: Excessive thirst.
Polyphagia: Excessive hunger.
Other common symptoms are unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and the presence of glucose and ketone bodies in the urine.
6. Why do people with uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus experience frequent urination (polyuria) and increased thirst (polydipsia)?
This is a direct result of the kidneys' response to high blood glucose. When blood sugar levels are excessively high, the kidneys cannot reabsorb all the glucose from the filtered fluid. This excess glucose is then excreted in the urine. Because glucose is osmotically active, it draws large amounts of water along with it, leading to polyuria. The resulting loss of body fluid causes dehydration, which in turn stimulates the brain's thirst centre, causing intense and persistent thirst, or polydipsia.
7. Is Diabetes Mellitus the same as Diabetes Insipidus?
No, they are two completely different conditions despite the similar name. Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder concerning high blood sugar and the hormone insulin. In contrast, Diabetes Insipidus is a rare disorder related to the hormone vasopressin (or Antidiuretic Hormone, ADH). It affects the kidneys' ability to conserve water, leading to the excretion of large volumes of dilute urine and intense thirst. The key difference is that Diabetes Mellitus involves sugar in the urine, while Diabetes Insipidus does not.
8. What are the general principles for the management and treatment of Diabetes Mellitus?
The management of Diabetes Mellitus focuses on maintaining blood glucose levels within a normal range to prevent both short-term and long-term complications. The core principles include:
Dietary Management: Following a balanced diet low in simple carbohydrates and saturated fats.
Physical Activity: Regular exercise to improve insulin sensitivity and manage weight.
Medication: For Type 2, this may involve oral hypoglycemic agents. For Type 1, insulin therapy is essential for survival.
Monitoring: Regular self-monitoring of blood glucose levels.
9. How can prolonged hyperglycemia in Diabetes Mellitus affect major organs like the kidneys and eyes?
Sustained high blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, leading to serious long-term complications. For instance:
Diabetic Nephropathy: Damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys can impair their filtering ability, potentially leading to kidney failure.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Damage to the blood vessels of the retina in the eye is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness.
Other complications include nerve damage (neuropathy) and a significantly increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
