The medical name of diabetes is Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes is the colloquial name for this disease. The word ‘diabetes’ was derived from an ancient Greek word that means “to pass through.”
Diabetes is a metabolism disorder. This disease is caused by certain combined environmental and hereditary factors. The combination of these factors results to an abnormally high or low glucose or blood sugar levels. This condition is called hyperglycemia. Glucose in our blood is controlled by a complex interaction of multiple hormones in the human body. This interaction includes insulin, a hormone produced by the beta cells found in the pancreas. (more…)
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus, to put it simply, is a metabolism disorder wherein the body has diminishing production of insulin or it becomes resistant to its effects. During metabolism, glucose, which is the body’s main source of energy, is extracted by hydrolysis from the carbohydrates like starch and sucrose. Glucose is the absorbed into the blood. When the concentration of glucose increases, the body releases insulin, which acts as a transporter, diffusing glucose into muscles, adipose, and other tissues. It also serves as a stimulant for the liver to store glucose in the form of glycogen for later use. The absence of insulin can cause a buildup of glucose concentration in the blood (hyperglycemia), making the body unable to take up more glucose and to use alternative energy sources like fatty acids. It also results in excessive sweet urine or glycosuria, a disease often associated with diabetes where the kidneys are unable to contain the built-up glucose overflowing into the urine. Hyperglycemia causes the signs of diabetes like excessive urine production or polyuria, which often comes with increased thirst (polydipsia) and excessive hunger (polyphagia), blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, lethargy, and changes in energy metabolism. (more…)
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease where the human body is unable to produce or use insulin properly. Insulin is a kind of hormone needed to convert starches, sugar, and other food into energy that we burn and use throughout our daily lives. The major cause of diabetes is still a mystery, though environmental and genetic factors such as lack of exercise and obesity are said to trigger this disease.
In the US alone, about 8 percent of the population have this disease. This means 24 million adults and children are affected. Unfortunately, while 18 million are diagnosed to have diabetes, 6 million or a quarter of those afflicted with diabetes, are unaware that they have the disease. (more…)
