Diabetes
mellitus:
Diabetes mellitus,
often refered simply as diabetes is a syndrome characterized by disordered metabolism and inappropriately high
blood sugar (hyperglycemia) resulting from either low levels of the hormone insulin or from abnormal resistance to
insulin's effects coupled with inadequate levels of insulin secretion to compensate. The characteristic symptoms
are excessive urine production (polyuria), excessive thirst and increased fluid intake (polydipsia), and blurred
vision; these symptoms may be absent if the blood sugar is mildly elevated.
The World Health Organization recognizes three main forms of diabetes mellitus: type
1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy).
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