Diabetes

Diabetes page 1 of 3

Definition
Diabetes mellitus is a disease that impairs the body to metabolize and efficiently use carbohydrates, proteins and fats. When we eat, food (especiallycarbohydrates and fruits) are converted into glucose. All body cells need glucose to live, but glucose can not get into the cells without the intervention of insulin. Insulin is produced in beta cells, which arelocated at the end of the pancreas.

Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugarlevels.
When the pancreas does not produce insulin, glucose can not get into body cells and used.
In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.When the insulin receptors of cells in the body do not function, insulin can not be attached to them and the glucose can not get into body cells and used.

Cause
Type 1 diabetes is caused bygenetics and unknown factors that trigger the onset of the disease or some pathology that influence the functioning of the pancreas. The most important factors in the onset of type 2 diabetes are insulinresistance and glucose intolerance, excess weight and lack of exercise.

Clinical presentation
The symptoms of patients with diabetes type 1 or type 2 are very similar, but the big difference is thevelocity of the evolution of the symptoms; the symptoms in the patients with type 1 diabetes usually develop very fast and the condition is often diagnosed in an emergency. On the other hand, somepatients with type 2

Diabetes page 2 of 3
diabetes can carry with this disease for years, without any symptom. These are the most common symptoms of type 1 and 2 diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes:
•Increased thirst (polydipsia)
• Increased urination (polyuria)
• Weight loss despite increased appetite
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Type 2 diabetes:
• Increased thirst (polydipsia)
•...