Diabetes is a condition in which your body struggles to control sugar levels in your blood. This can occur because your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use it effectively, leading to high blood sugar levels that can harm your health if not managed properly.
The pancreas is the major organ that helps to control the sugar level in the body by producing insulin. The pancreas has alpha cells which secrete glucagon, beta cells which release insulin and decrease glucose levels, and delta cells which release somatostatin, inhibiting the release of insulin.
Commonly, diabetes is categorized into four types:
Type 1 is Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, meaning the destruction of pancreatic beta cells results in an absolute deficiency of insulin. Therefore, the treatment option is only insulin. It is also known as Juvenile diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes is Non-insulin dependent, meaning the pancreatic cells are functioning, but the amount of insulin secreted by beta cells is not sufficient to reduce glucose levels. Oral hypoglycemic agents are effective for this type.
Type 3 Diabetes is due to prolonged drug therapy and other pancreatic diseases.
Type 4 Diabetes is Gestational Diabetes, characterized by increased glucose levels during pregnancy.
Diagnostic tests for DM include:
FBS (Fasting Blood Sugar): 70-120 mg/dl
RBS (Random Blood Sugar): 70-150 mg/dl
PPBS (Postprandial Blood Sugar): 70-140 mg/dl
GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test): Conducted during pregnancy
Urine Analysis: 0-0.8 mmol/L
HbA1C: 4.5-6%
Complications of DM
- Optic neuropathy
- Optic retinopathy
- Neuropathic pain
- Nephropathy
- Diabetic foot ulcer
- Polydipsia
- Polyphagia
- Polyuria
- weight loss
- Skin rashes
- Increase risk of heart disease
- Increase level of cholesterol
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- In type 1 DM, fruity odor is present due to Acetone bodies
