Introduction

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. It is a costly disease associated with severe morbidity and premature death that affects millions of Americans. Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. Diabetes affects the way the body handles fats, leading to fat accumulation in the arteries and potential damage to the kidneys, eyes, heart, and brain, and statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) may be prescribed to prevent heart disease. It can also affect the nerves, causing numbness or pain in the face and extremities. Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels, that result from defects in insulin secretion, or action, or both. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, meaning that although it can be controlled, it lasts a lifetime. Diabetes affects approximately 17 million people (about 8% of the population) in the United States.

Types

Type 1 diabetes, which was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes, may account for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, which was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes, may account for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes also appears to be associated with obesity. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to increasing obesity and failure to exercise. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains may accompany some of these symptoms in the abrupt onset of insulin-dependent diabetes, now called type 1 diabetes. Other specific types of diabetes resulting from specific genetic syndromes, surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses may account for 1% to 2% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Tests

The following blood tests are used to diagnose diabetes:Fasting blood glucose level — diabetes is diagnosed if higher than 126 mg/dL on two occasions.Doctors recommend taking diabetes detection tests early. A fasting blood glucose test is the most common test. Other tests include random blood glucose tests and a formal glucose tolerance test. Diabetic patients can test their blood sugar on a regular basis right at home to manage their blood sugar level.

Treatment

Treatment includes a diet limited in carbohydrates and saturated fat, exercise to burn glucose, and regular insulin injections, sometimes administered via a portable insulin pump. It also involves medicines, diet, and exercise to control blood sugar and prevent symptoms. As in Type I diabetes, treatment includes exercise and weight loss and a diet low in total carbohydrates and saturated fat. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes may respond to treatment with exercise, diet, and medicines taken by mouth.