Diabetes Mellitus or simply diabetes is a type of syndrome characterized by a disordered metabolism due to environmental or hereditary causes. This results to Hyperglycemia or abnormal levels of high blood sugar.
Since a complex interaction between most hormones and chemicals in the body is controlled by blood glucose levels, it also includes the Insulin hormone made by the pancreas’ beta cells. If there are defects in Insulin, whether it’s with its action or secretion, this will trigger high levels of blood glucose in the body and result to a group of diseases called Diabetes Mellitus.Due to diminished Insulin production, type 1 diabetes develops. If resistance to the effects has occurred, gestational and type 2 diabetes will develop. This leads to hyperglycemia.
When this happens, acute signs become present such as blurred vision, lethargy, unexplained weight loss, energy metabolism changes and excessive production of urine. This results to increased thirst as well as fluid intake.
With the availability of Insulin, diabetes and its various forms are already treatable since the year 1921. However, a cure is yet to be found.
At present, the basic treatment for type 1 diabetes includes injections of Insulin via an Insulin pen, Insulin pump and syringe. When it comes to type 2 diabetes, it is managed along with Insulin supplementation, medication and dietary treatment.
The treatment as well as diabetes itself can cause a lot of complications. If it is not controlled right away, acute complications such as nonketonic hyperosmolar coma, ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia will occur. On the other hand, chronic renal failure, cardiovascular disease, retinal damage that can lead to total blindness, nerve damage and microvascular damage which results to poor healing of the wounds as well as impotence pose as long-term serious complications. Since the wounds heal poorly, especially those found in the feet, it can result to gangrene or even amputation.
By controlling blood pressure, improving one’s lifestyle and getting adequate treatment, one can progress from the risk profile of diabetes’ most chronic complications. It is estimated that diabetes is currently the leading cause of blindness among the non-elderly adults. It is also currently the most significant cause of amputation among adults. Lastly, diabetes nephropathy remains as the leading illness that requires renal dialysis, particularly in the US.
Although diabetes in general is referred to as “excessively sweet urine”, there are a lot of rare conditions you can relate it to. One common condition is called diabetes insipidus. With this condition, one’s urine is not really sweet but it is caused by pituitary gland or liver damage.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes was formerly known as juvenile diabetes, childhood-onset diabetes and IDDM or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. It is due to the loss of beta cells that produce Insulin, found in the “Islets of Langerhans” of the pancreas. Due to Insulin deficiency, this Diabetes type can be classified as idiopathic and immune-mediated. Since there are no findings pertaining to its preventive measures, most of its affected victims are healthy once it occurs.
In fact, it is only normal to be responsive yet sensitive to insulin in the early stages. Children are more susceptible to this type of diabetes than adults.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes was formerly known as obesity-related diabetes, NIDDM (Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes), and adult-onset diabetes. Primarily due to a resistance to insulin or a reduced sensitivity to it, it becomes relatively combined with a reduced but oftentimes absolute secretion of insulin. With the bodily tissues’ defective responsiveness to insulin, it brought about the cell membrane’s Insulin receptors. Although its specific defects remain unknown, it is separately classified.
During its early stages, reduced insulin sensitivity characterized by the Insulin’s elevated levels in the blood remains as its predominant abnormality. It is still easy to reverse Hyperglycemia via certain medication and measures, implementing the improvement of Insulin sensitivity as well as reducing the liver’s production of glucose. However, due to the progression of the disease, it also worsens the impairment of insulin secretion. This leads to the need for therapeutic replacement.
There are several theories noted pertaining to the mechanism and exact cause of type 2 diabetes. One factor is referred to as central obesity. This is because large volumes of fat can predispose insulin resistance. Aside from this, since abdominal fat is hormonally active, it secretes Adipokines or a group of hormones that may impair one’s glucose tolerance.
Other noted factors include family history and aging. Environmental exposures to materials such as polycarbonate plastic are also contributing factors. Even if this type of Diabetes can go unnoticed since the symptoms are mild, sporadic or even non-existent, this is also the type that leads to long-term severe complications which result to vascular diseases, renal failure, vision damage, liver damage, loss of pain or sensation and even heart failure.
Gestational or Type 3 Diabetes
Type 3 or gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes in a lot of aspects. This is due to the involvement of inadequate Insulin responsiveness and secretion. However, it occurs in just about 2 up to 4 percent of pregnancies, improving and even disappearing after labor.
Although gestational diabetes is treatable, it still requires full medical supervision all through the pregnancy. If disregarded, untreated and thought only as transient, it can damage the health of the mother or the fetus.
Some of the indicated risks include central nervous system and congenital cardiac anomalies, and macrosomia or high birth weight as well as muscle skeletal malformation. An increase in fetal Insulin can inhibit the production of fetal surfactant, causing the so-called Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Another case called Hyperbilirubinemia is a result of the destruction of red blood cells. For severe cases, it can lead to perinatal death because of vascular impairment that leads to poor “placental profussion”.
Other Reported Causes of Diabetes
Even if most studies show that diabetes falls within the two categories such as type 1 and type 2, there are other types that are now being re-classified according to their specific causes. Later on, once the causes have been finalized specifically, those who were categorized as type 1 or type 2 will be re-classified to their respective “specific” causes.
There are cases where diabetes is caused by the unresponsive tissue receptors of the body towards insulin. However, this is very unlikely or uncommon.
There are also genetic mutations (mitochondrial or autosomal) that can lead to a defective functioning of one’s beta cells. In other cases, there have been genetically determined abnormalities in the insulin’s actions.
Any type of disease that causes extensive damage to one’s pancreas can result to diabetes. Diseases associated with excessive secretion of “insulin-antagonistic hormones” may cause diabetes. There are also drugs that impair the secretion of Insulin aside from the toxins that can damage the beta cells of the pancreas.
Inherited Diabetes
Since the two common types of diabetes are only partly inherited, there is still a so-called “genetic element” that makes one susceptible to some of the triggering factors recently traced to HLA genotypes. For those who may have inherited this susceptibility, it is type 1 diabetes that requires environmental triggering factors.
It is also reported to become triggered also by stress or viral infections. Only a minimal portion of this type actually carries mutated genes that may cause the so-called MODY or Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young.
Type 2 diabetes has a stronger pattern of inheritance factors. 1st degree relatives of those with this type of diabetes possess higher risks of developing the same disease. It also increases according to the number of relatives that already developed this type of diabetes. Obesity is also strongly inherited.
There are also other hereditary conditions that can be related to diabetes. Examples are Friedreich’s Ataxia and Myotic Dystrophy. There is also the Wolfram’s Syndrome, an evident childhood Autosomal Recessive Neurodegenerative disorder. It actually consists of diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness.
Diabetes has other types aside from its 3 common types (type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes). Further studies are now shedding light on other types generally triggered by specific causes. Whether it’s hereditary or due to environmental causes, early signs and symptoms of Diabetes should not be disregarded.
If you know that Diabetes runs in your family, then it is very likely that you or your children can develop the disease. If it does not run in your family, it does not mean that you are not susceptible to it. People who are subjected to stress and viral infections, especially those who have weak immune systems are also prone to developing Diabetes.
Those who don’t seriously consider their health or lifestyle and engage in activities such as excessive smoking, bad sleeping habits and heavy as well as prolonged alcohol intake may acquire the disease. People who have poor dietary habits such as those who frequently eat junk food, too much sweets and carbonated drinks may be afflicted with serious long-term complications due to diabetes.
Living a healthy lifestyle, taking care of one’s health, getting some exercise and having good dietary habits can help lower the risk of acquiring diabetes. Getting the necessary insulin treatment combined with the ones mentioned above can improve the lives of those who have inherited or acquired the disease.