What is Diabetes Mellitus? Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Methods

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is commonly known as diabetes, a metabolic problem that causes high blood sugar. Blood sugar (glucose) is vital to your health because it is an essential energy source for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. However, the insulin hormones move sugar from the blood into your body cells to be stored or used for energy. Untreated high blood sugar (glucose) from diabetes can damage your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other body organs.

Types of diabetes mellitus

There are some different types of diabetes:-

  • Type 1 diabetes: It is an autoimmune disease. The autoimmune disease attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. Out of 100, about 10 percent of people with diabetes have this type.
  • Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar builds up in your blood.
  • Prediabetes: Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar is higher than usual. But, it is not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
  • Gestational diabetes: This is high blood sugar during pregnancy periods. And this type of diabetes can be caused by insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta.

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus

General symptoms

The general symptoms of diabetes may include:-

  • Increased hunger
  • Increased thirst
  • Weight loss issues
  • Frequent urination
  • Blurry vision
  • Extreme fatigue etc.

Symptoms in men

Also, some general symptoms of diabetes in men may have decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and poor muscle strength.

Symptoms in women

However, most women with diabetes can also have symptoms like urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and dry, itchy skin.

Type 1 diabetes

Some symptoms of type 1 diabetes may include:-

  • Extreme hunger
  • Increased thirst
  • Weight loss issue
  • Frequent urination
  • Blurry vision
  • Tiredness

Type 2 diabetes

Some symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include:-

  • Extreme hunger
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination problem
  • Blurry vision
  • Tiredness
  • Ores that are slow to heal

Gestational diabetes

However, many women with gestational diabetes don’t have any signs and symptoms. In this case, the possible 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 some rare cases, women with gestational diabetes will also experience improved thirst and urination problems.

Causes of Diabetes Mellitus

Some possible causes of diabetes may include:-

Type 1 diabetes: Health consultants don’t know what causes type 1 diabetes. For some reason, the autoimmune system mistakenly attacks and destroys beta cells producing insulin hormone in the pancreas. Some genes play a vital role in some people. It is also possible that some viruses set off the immune system attack.

Type 2 diabetes: It stems from genetics and other lifestyle factors. Being overweight, especially in your belly, makes your cells more resistant to the effects of insulin on your blood sugar. This condition also runs in families. Family members transfer genes that make them more likely to get type 2 diabetes and to be overweight.

Gestational diabetes: It is the result of hormonal changes during pregnancy. However, the placenta generates hormones that make pregnant women’s cells less sensitive to the effects of insulin. This process can cause high blood sugar (glucose) during pregnancy. Most overweight women who gain too much weight during pregnancy are more likely to get gestational diabetes.

Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes

However, insulin is the primary treatment factor for type 1 diabetes. Insulin replaces the hormone your body is not able to produce. However, four kinds of insulin are most commonly used. They are:-

  • Rapid-acting insulin: Firstly, it starts to work within 15 minutes and lasts for 3 to 4 hours.
  • Short-acting insulin: Secondly, it starts to work within 30 minutes and lasts 6 to 8 hours.
  • Intermediate-acting insulin: Thirdly, it starts to work within 1 to 2  hours and lasts 12 to 18 hours.
  • Long-acting insulin: It works a few hours after injection and lasts 24 hours or longer.

Type 2 diabetes

A healthy diet and exercise can help some people manage type 2 diabetes. If lifestyle changes are not enough to lower your blood sugar, you must take medical drugs such as biguanides, DPP-4 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptides, meglitinides, etc.

Gestational diabetes

In this case, you will need to check your blood sugar level several times a day during pregnancy. If it’s high, dietary and daily exercise changes may or may not be enough to bring it down.

Last Updated on October 10, 2023 by anup