Diabetes mellitus or diabetes is one of the common diseases found in many countries in the world. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by high level of glucose in blood and is associated with many risk factors. As most of the food items in a diet are often comprised of plants and plant derived products, the level of glucose will likely be high after every meal. Normal level of glucose in blood should be between 80-120mg/dl.
Diabetes mellitus can be divided in three types, namely
Type 1 Diabetes
This is due to the defect in insulin production in the body. Insulin is the hormone responsible for the conversion of excess glucose in the body to glycogen. This hormone is produced from Islet of Langerhans cells of pancreas. Defects in pancreas and alterations in the genes coding for insulin are responsible for Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Defective insulin will not be able to polymerise glucose molecules to glycogen. This type of diabetes is seen in children as well as in adults.
Type 2 Diabetes
In the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, blood glucose level will be high along with normal level of insulin. The underlining defect of this type of diabetes has not yet been identified clearly. It is thought to be of insulin resistance that prevents its actions to control glucose level. Many other studies also point out the problems associated with glucose transporters present in cells. These transporters are responsible for the entrance of glucose molecules in to cell. This is the most common type of diabetes in America. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by weight loss, thirst, fatigue, continuous urination and blurred vision.
Gestational Diabetes
It is the condition with high blood glucose level soon after delivery and is found among 5-10 % of women. It is usually of type 2 category. It can also be detrimental to the foetus.
Diabetes Insipidus (DI)
It is entirely different condition to diabetes mellitus. During DI, the level of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) of vasopressin will be much less in the body resulting in heavy loss of water and salts. It can also be due to low response of kidney to vasopressin. Diabetes insipidus can be due to defect in hypothalamus or suprasellar invasions of pituitary glands on hypothalamus.
The familiar factors associated with diabetes are based on mutated insulin gene. There may be some factors that accelerate production of mutated insulin and is transmitted from generation to generation. In such cases, regular check up should be done before the age of 20 and to be controlled from the onset of disease. |
