What is Diabetes? Treat it Now!

Diabetes mellitus, often referred 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).

Ultimately, all forms are due to the beta cells of the pancreas being unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia.

Type 1 diabetes is usually due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin. Insulin, which our body requires to control the levels of sugar in our blood, is created by the beta cells in the pancreas, or, more specifically, in the Islets of Langerhans, which is a part of the pancreas. In Type 1 diabetes, you will see it in children a lot more than adults.

Cautious watching of the blood sugar levels and replacement of insulin is the treatment for type 1 diabetes. There is no cure for type 1 diabetes, but there are ways to slow down the progression.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in target tissues, but some impairment of beta cell function is necessary for its development. Type 2 diabetes combines resistance to insulin to lack of secretion of insulin. Proper diet and exercise is the best way to treat this disease.

Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes, in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones of pregnancy can cause insulin resistance in women genetically predisposed to developing this condition.

Gestational diabetes typically resolves with delivery of the child, however types 1 and 2 diabetes are chronic conditions  All types have been treatable since insulin became medically available in 1921. Type 1 diabetes, in which insulin is not secreted by the pancreas is directly treatable only with injected or inhaled insulin, although dietary and other lifestyle adjustments are part of management Type 2 may be managed with a combination of dietary treatment, tablets and injections and, frequently, insulin supplementation.

While insulin was originally produced from natural sources such as porcine pancreas, most insulin used today is produced through genetic engineering,
either as a direct copy of human insulin, or human insulin with modified molecules that provide different onset and duration of action.
Insulin can also be delivered continuously by a pump surgically embedded under the skin.

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