Do You Know That, Diabetes Mellitus Is More Dangerous To HIV? Read This Article To Know.

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Is a disease condition due to inability of the body to make use of carbohydrate or sugar because of deficiency of insulin.

The high blood sugar produces a classical symptoms of frequent urination, increased thirsty, increased hunger.

What is Insulin?

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that is essential for the metabolism or use of carbohydrate in the body.

Insulin is responsible for facilitating the uptake or entry of sugar in to the cells for energy production. Deficiency or lack of insulin leads to Diabetes Mellitus in which the blood sugar level is too high. The excess glucose is eliminated by the kidneys and excreted in the urine.

How insulin works?

Insulin is a hormone that comes from a gland situated behind and below the stomach (pancreas).

The pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream.

The insulin circulates, enabling sugar to enter your cells.

Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your bloodstream.

As your blood sugar level drops, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas.

The role of glucose

Glucose — a sugar — is a source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues.

Glucose comes from two major sources: food and your liver.

Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it enters cells with the help of insulin.

Your liver stores and makes glucose.

When your glucose levels are low, such as when you have not eaten in a while, the liver breaks down stored glycogen into glucose to keep your glucose level within a normal range.

Let get back to the main points for Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes Mellitus is a common disease condition but unfortunately, many of the victims may not aware of the condition. Diabetes Mellitus can lead to serious complications but can be controlled or modified, people with it can live long and virtually normal life if controlled accordingly.

How many types of Diabetes Mellitus do we have?

The types of Diabetes Mellitus are:

1. Type l or Insulin Dependent (Juvenile): Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and the patient need daily injection of Insulin.

2. Type ll or Non-insulin Dependent: This results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly. In this case there is sufficient insulin but it is not effective in facilitating the entry or uptake of glucose in to the cells for energy production. Some drugs are taken orally to help the metabolism of glucose by the cells.

3. Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but it’s not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

4. Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes.

NB: A rare condition called diabetes insipidus is not related to diabetes mellitus, although it has a similar name. It’s a different condition in which your kidneys remove too much fluid from your body.

What causes diabetes mellitus?

Different causes are associated with each type of diabetes.

. Type 1 diabetes

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes. For some reason, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

Genes may play a role in some people. It’s also possible that a virus sets off the immune system attack.

. Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes stems from a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors. Being overweight or obese increases your risk too. Carrying extra weight, especially in your belly, makes your cells more resistant to the effects of insulin on your blood sugar.

. Heredity

Family members share genes that make them more likely to get type 2 diabetes and to be overweight.

. Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is the result of hormonal changes during pregnancy. The placenta produces hormones that make a pregnant woman’s cells less sensitive to the effects of insulin. This can cause high blood sugar during pregnancy.

Women who are overweight when they get pregnant or who gain too much weight during their pregnancy are more likely to get gestational diabetes.

The points

Both genes and environmental factors play a role in triggering diabetes.

What are the risk factors of Diabetes?

Certain factors increase your risk for diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes

You’re more likely to get type 1 diabetes if you’re a child or teenager, you have a parent or sibling with the condition, or you carry certain genes that are linked to the disease.

Type 2 diabetes

Your risk for type 2 diabetes increases if you:

Are overweight

Are age 45 or older

Have a parent or sibling with the condition

aren’t physically active

Have had gestational diabetes

Have prediabetes

Have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides

Have African American, Hispanic or Latino American, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, American Indian, or Asian American ancestry.

Gestational diabetes

Your risk for gestational diabetes increases if you:

are overweight

are over age 25

had gestational diabetes during a past pregnancy

have given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds

have a family history of type 2 diabetes

have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

The points

Your family, environment, and preexisting medical conditions can all affect your odds of developing diabetes. 

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Diabetes symptoms are caused by rising blood sugar.

General symptoms of Diabetes.

The general symptoms of diabetes include:

increased hunger

increased thirst

weight loss

frequent urination

blurred vision

extreme fatigue

sores that don’t heal.

Symptoms in men.

In addition to the general symptoms of diabetes, men with diabetes may have a decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), and poor muscle strength.

Symptoms in women.

Women with diabetes can also have symptoms such as urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and dry, itchy skin.

Symptoms of Diabetes according to its types are:

Type 1 diabetes

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include:

extreme hunger

increased thirst

tiredness

unintentional weight loss

frequent urination

blurred vision

It may also result in mood changes.

Type 2 diabetes

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:

increased hunger

increased thirst

increased urination

blurry vision

tiredness

sores that are slow to heal

It may also cause recurring infections. This is because elevated glucose levels make it harder for the body to heal.

Gestational diabetes

Most women with gestational diabetes don’t have any symptoms. The condition is often detected during a routine blood sugar test or oral glucose tolerance test that is usually performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation.

In rare cases, a woman with gestational diabetes will also experience increased thirst or urination.

The points

Diabetes symptoms can be so mild that they’re hard to spot at first.

How to diagnose diabetes mellitus?

Anyone who has symptoms of diabetes or is at risk for the disease should be tested. Women are routinely tested for gestational diabetes during their second or third trimesters of pregnancy.

Doctors use these blood tests to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes:

The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test measures your blood sugar after you’ve fasted for 8 hours.

The A1C test provides a snapshot of your blood sugar levels over the previous 3 months.

To diagnose gestational diabetes, your doctor will test your blood sugar levels between the 24th and 28th weeks of your pregnancy.

During the glucose challenge test, your blood sugar is checked an hour after you drink a sugary liquid.

During the 3 hour glucose tolerance test, your blood sugar is checked after you fast overnight and then drink a sugary liquid.

The earlier you get diagnosed with diabetes, the sooner you can start treatment. Find out whether you should get tested, and get more information on tests your doctor might perform.

The drug or combination of drugs that your doctor prescribes will depend on the type of diabetes you have — and its cause.

What are the complications of Diabetes Mellitus?

High blood sugar damages organs and tissues throughout your body. The higher your blood sugar is and the longer you live with it, the greater your risk for complications.

Complications associated with diabetes include:

retinopathy and vision loss

heart disease, heart attack, and stroke

neuropathy

nephropathy

hearing loss

foot damage such as infections and sores that do not heal

skin conditions such as bacterial and fungal infections

depression

dementia.

Gestational diabetes

Uncontrolled gestational diabetes can lead to problems that affect both the mother and baby. 

Complications affecting the baby can include:

premature birth

higher-than-normal weight at birth

increased risk for type 2 diabetes later in life

low blood sugar

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stillbirth.

The mother can develop complications such as high blood pressure (preeclampsia) or type 2 diabetes. She may also require cesarean delivery, commonly referred to as a C-section.

The mother’s risk of gestational diabetes in future pregnancies also increases.

The points

Diabetes can lead to serious medical complications, but you can manage the condition with medications and lifestyle changes. 

How to treat Diabetes Mellitus?

Diet

Exercise

Weight loss

Education

In type 1 diabetes, insulin injections

In type 2 diabetes, often drugs by mouth and sometimes insulin or other drugs by injection.

Diet, exercise, and education are the cornerstones of treatment of diabetes and often the first recommendations for people with mild diabetes. Weight loss is important for people who are overweight. People who continue to have elevated blood glucose levels despite lifestyle changes, or have very high blood glucose levels and people with type 1 diabetes (no matter their blood glucose levels) also require drugs.

Because complications are less likely to develop if people with diabetes strictly control their blood glucose levels, the goal of diabetes treatment is to keep blood glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible.

Treatment of high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, which can contribute to circulation problems, can help prevent some of the complications of diabetes as well. A low dose of aspirin taken daily is recommended in people with risk factors for heart disease. All people with diabetes who are between 40 and 75 years are given a statin (a drug to decrease cholesterol levels) regardless of cholesterol levels. People younger than 40 or older than 75 years and with an elevated risk of heart disease also should take a statin.

It is helpful for people with diabetes to carry or wear medical identification (such as a bracelet or tag) to alert health care practitioners to the presence of diabetes. This information allows health care practitioners to start life-saving treatment quickly, especially in the case of injury or change in mental status.

Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state are medical emergencies because they can cause coma and death. Treatment is similar for both and centers around giving intravenous fluids and insulin.

Diabetes treatment goals

Experts recommend that people keep their blood glucose levels:

Between 80 and 130 mg/dL (4.4 and 7.2 mmol/L) fasting (before meals)

Less than 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) 2 hours after meals

Hemoglobin A1C levels should be less than 7%.

Because aggressive treatment to reach these goals increases the risk that blood glucose might go too low (hypoglycemia), these goals are adjusted for some people in whom hypoglycemia is particularly undesirable, such as older people.

Some other goals are keeping systolic blood pressure less than 140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg. For diabetic people who have heart disease or are at high risk for heart disease, the blood pressure goal is less than 130/80 mm Hg.

General treatment of diabetes

People with diabetes benefit greatly from learning about the disorder, understanding how diet and exercise affect their blood glucose levels, and knowing how to avoid complications. A medical practitioner trained in diabetes education can provide information about managing diet, exercising, monitoring blood glucose levels, and taking drugs.

People with diabetes should stop smoking as it is among the risk factors that trigger on to have Diabetes Mellitus. 

Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes can't be prevented. However, the same healthy lifestyle choices that help treat prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes can also help prevent them:

Eat healthy foods. 

Choose foods lower in fat and calories and higher in fiber. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety to prevent boredom.

Get more physical activity. 

Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity on most days of the week, or at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week.

Lose excess body weight. 

If you're overweight, losing even 7% of your body weight for example, 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms) if you weigh 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms) can reduce the risk of diabetes.

Do not try to lose weight during pregnancy, however. Talk to your doctor about how much weight is healthy for you to gain during pregnancy.

To keep your weight in a healthy range, focus on permanent changes to your eating and exercise habits. Motivate yourself by remembering the benefits of losing weight, such as a healthier heart, more energy and improved self-esteem.

Sometimes medication is an option as well. Oral diabetes drugs such as metformin (Glumetza, Fortamet, others) may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes but healthy lifestyle choices remain essential. Have your blood sugar checked at least once a year to check that you haven't developed type 2 diabetes.

What kind of diet should I eat as a diabetes mellitus patient?

Healthy eating is a central part of managing diabetes. In some cases, changing your diet may be enough to control the disease.

Type 1 diabetes

Your blood sugar level rises or falls based on the types of foods you eat. Starchy or sugary foods make blood sugar levels rise rapidly. Protein and fat cause more gradual increases.

Your medical team may recommend that you limit the amount of carbohydrates you eat each day. You will also need to balance your carb intake with your insulin doses.

Work with a dietitian who can help you design a diabetes meal plan. Getting the right balance of protein, fat, and carbs can help you control your blood sugar. Check out this guide to starting a type 1 diabetes diet.

Type 2 diabetes

Eating the right types of foods can both control your blood sugar and help you lose any excess weight.

Carb counting is an important part of eating for type 2 diabetes. A dietitian can help you figure out how many grams of carbohydrates to eat at each meal.

In order to keep your blood sugar levels steady, try to eat small meals throughout the day.

Emphasize healthy foods such as:

fruits

vegetables

whole grains

lean protein such as poultry and fish

healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts

Certain other foods can undermine efforts to keep your blood sugar in control.Discover the foods you should avoid if you have diabetes.

Gestational diabetes

Eating a well-balanced diet is important for both you and your baby during these nine months. Making the right food choices can also help you avoid diabetes medications.

Watch your portion sizes, and limit sugary or salty foods. Although you need some sugar to feed your growing baby, you should avoid eating too much.

Consider making an eating plan with the help of a dietitian or nutritionist. They’ll ensure that your diet has the right mix of macronutrients. 

Sources:

Community Health unpublished lecture Notes.

www.msdmanuals.com

www.mayoclinic.org

www.healthline.com