Medihub - Medical Information - Endocrinology

What is Diabetes ?

‘Diabetes’ means ‘like a siphon’, whilst ‘Mellitus’ is the Greek word for ‘sweet like honey’. Therein lies the description of what afflicts a person with diabetes. He/she has high blood sugar levels which overflow into the urine making it sweet like honey. The sugar in the urine draws water out from the body with it and the person passes copius amounts of urine, making him/her dehydrated and weak. Because of the constant loss of sugar and the inability of the cells in the body to harness sugar to provide energy, the person loses weight, feels tired and wastes away. Over time, the high sugar that is constantly in the blood bathing the lining of the blood vessels and cells causes its damage in organs like the eyes (blindness), kidneys (kidney failure and dialysis), heart (heart attacks), brain (stroke), nerves in the feet (numbness and pain), blood vessels in the feet (amputations) and even the male organ – the penis (impotence or erectile dysfunction).

Diabetes is both a metabolic or hormonal condition as it involves the hormone insulin. This is produced by the pancreas and regulates the body’s blood sugar. Diabetes is also a vascular condition as most of the damage to the various organs are to the blood vessels supplying them.

Are there different sorts of diabetes ?

YES !

There are many different types of diabetes, but the most common 3 are …

Type 1 diabetes

About 5 % of diabetes is of this form. Formerly called juvenile-onset diabetes or insulin-dependant diabetes, these terms suggest its nature. Children are commonly affected, though Type 1 diabetes can also be seen in adults. The pancreas is destroyed by the time of onset of Type 1 diabetes. There is insufficient or no insulin in the body. Those with Type 1 diabetes need to give themselves insulin injections to control their blood sugar and to survive. Only till recently was the only method of delivering insulin by injections. Since January 2006, insulin delivery is possible through an inhaler device.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. This was formerly called adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin dependant diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. This form of diabetes is more common as we age. However, over the last decade or so, we are seeing Type 2 diabetes in young adults and even in children. Genetics play a part in a person developing Type 2 diabetes – usually one or both parents or even siblings have diabetes. Playing an equal role is the environmental factor of obesity. Obesity, itself results from an interplay of excessive nutrient intake (eating too much) and inadequate energy expenditure (not exercising enough).

The treatment of Type 2 diabetes is therefore getting insulin to work harder in the body through weight loss, regular exercise and the use of medication which includes both tablets and insulin.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is defined as diabetes which is discovered during pregnancy. Diabetes may have been pre-existent before pregnancy and undetected or it may have developed during pregnancy itself. In the latter, diabetes usually shows itself in the last 3 months’ of pregnancy through an interplay of increase weight and the action of the female hormones in raising blood sugar and making insulin ineffective in its action.

The control of blood sugar during pregnancy is essential for the health of the baby and mother and for an uncomplicated delivery.

Standard blood sugar (glycemic) targets are achieved through food choices and meal planning. Dieting is ‘out’ during pregnancy as both mother and baby need enough nutrients. If the blood sugar level cannot be controlled through proper food choices and meal planning, insulin injections become necessary. Insulin is safe during pregnancy. It is the high blood sugar that is dangerous to both mother and baby.