Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a physical disease of the pancreas, a gland that produces little insulin or not. Insulin is a hormone that acts to regulate the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Insulin lowers blood glucose (sugar) and facilitates entry of glucose transport into muscle and other tissues for their energy needs in the liver cells to store fat. Inadequate supply of insulin causes blood sugar and elevated blood fats. What result? Some common symptoms of DM - excessive thirst, hunger. If the disease progresses, the body can not store glucose, or lead to weight loss and fatigue. Another common symptom is often overlooked blurred vision.

DM affects about 16 million Americans, but perhaps only half know they have it. Often, the tendency with the most common form of diabetes (type 2) that occur in older people, the symptoms with increasing age and obesity are confused. As a result, not always the care they need. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious problems, including increased risk for heart attack and stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage and amputations (loss) Arts of circulatory problems.

There are two types of diabetes Type 1, also known as a childhood similar to his young age is known - 14 years or younger - when the pancreas no longer works. Type 2 occurs later in life. About 90 percent of people with diabetes type II diabetes, which occurs in insulin-resistant muscle, but the body can produce enough.

Is there a cure for diabetes? No, but both can be well managed with a combination of medication, diet, exercise and a healthy, balanced monitoring of blood glucose levels.