Diabetes mellitus or diabetes is characterized by elevation of glucose or sugar levels in blood. Our food gives the body the necessary amount of glucose. It is a very common ailment among many people alDiabetes Mellitus or diabetes is a common ailment among many people. The disease is characterized by elevation of glucose or sugar levels in blood. Our food gives the body the necessary amount of glucose. The metabolic process starts and the pancreas starts secreting a hormone called insulin which breaks down the glucose, causing the glucose to enter the body cells. The entire process energizes the body to perform day to day activities. When the pancreas produces insulin in inadequate quantities, glucose imbalance occurs in blood, often leading to surplus glucose. This results in Type 1 diabetes. This type can be managed by injecting insulin from outside. Under certain circumstances, the cells of the body become resistant to insulin. This again results in faulty metabolism and collection of glucose in blood. This is Type 2 diabetes. Other forms of diabetes include gestational diabetes or diabetes in women during pregnancy, congenital diabetes caused due to genetic defects leading to weak pancreatic functioning, steroid diabetes caused by overdoses of glucocorticoids or steroidal medicines, monogenic diabetes and cystic fibrosis related diabetes. Common signs and symptoms of diabetes 1. Polyuria or frequent urination - When blood sugar levels rise, the body is urged to expel or get rid of the excess sugar through urination. This leads to frequent urination and passing out of surplus sugar through urine. This symptom may cause dehydration as a lot of water is lost from the body due to frequent urination. 2. Polyphegia or increased hunger - The hormone insulin is also a hunger-causing hormone. It stimulates our appetite. When glucose levels rise in blood, the body tries to balance it or cope with it by producing more insulin. This again triggers our hunger. 3. Polydipsia or increased thirst - When glucose levels soar in blood, the brain get signals to dilute it and excrete it through urine. This increases our demand for water. In other words, a diabetic person feels thirsty frequently. 4. Increased fatigue- In case of diabetes, the body cells fail to metabolize glucose properly. As a result, a reverse calorie effect is initiated, and body fat is broken down to supply energy to the body. Metabolizing of body fat consumes more energy than it produces, and this leads to intense fatigue. 5. Weight loss - Excessive loss of water or polyuria, metabolism of body fats and proteins and glucosuria often lead to sudden and exceptional weight loss in a diabetic person. 6. Blurred vision- In a diabetic patient, body fluid is often extracted from tissues which may also include eye lenses. In this way the lenses are rendered incapable of focusing, resulting in blurry vision. 7. Irritability - Diabetes is characterized by inadequate glucose supply to brain and other organs, making the patient feel tired and short-tempered. 8. Poor wound healing - High glucose in blood reduces the production of white blood cells that are responsible for the proper functioning of the body’s immune system. This leads to slow-paced healing of wounds. 9. Infections - A diabetic patient easily fall a prey to urinary tract infection or bacterial or fungal infections of skin. This occurs mainly due to a weakened immune system or suppression of immunity power.l around the world.
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