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Diabetes
Alternate Names : Diabetes Mellitus
Definition Diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It can be caused by too little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar), resistance to insulin, or both.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process of food metabolism. Several things happen when food is digested:
- A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body.
- An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it can be used as fuel.
People with diabetes have high blood glucose. This is because their pancreas does not make enough insulin or their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally, or both. There are three major types of diabetes: - Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. The body makes little or no insulin, and daily injections of insulin are required to sustain life. Without proper daily management, medical emergencies can arise.
- Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 and makes up 90% or more of all cases of diabetes. It usually occurs in adulthood. Here, the pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to the insulin. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to the growing number of older Americans, increasing obesity, and failure to exercise.
- Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a person who does not have diabetes.
Diabetes affects about 17 million Americans. There are many risk factors for diabetes, including: - A parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
- Obesity
- Age greater than 45 years
- Some ethnic groups (particularly African-Americans and Hispanic Americans)
- Gestational diabetes or delivering a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
- High blood pressure
- High blood levels of triglycerides (a type of fat molecule)
- High blood cholesterol level
The American Diabetes Association recommends that all adults be screened for diabetes at least every three years. A person at high risk should be screened more often.
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Definition Diabetes Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors Diabetes Symptoms & Signs Diabetes Prevention Diabetes Diagnosis & Tests Diabetes Treatment Diabetes Prognosis Diabetes Complications Diabetes Support Groups Calling Your Health Care Provider
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Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
Angina - Stable Arteriosclerosis of the Extremities Atherosclerosis Diabetic Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Coma Diabetic Ketoacidosis Diabetic Nephropathy Diabetic Neuropathy Diabetic Retinopathy Gestational Diabetes Hypertension Hypoglycemia Lipid Disorders - Acquired Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes
Tests & Exams
Blood Glucose Monitoring Glucose Test Glucose Tolerance Test HbA1c Urinalysis
Other Topics
Abdominal Pain Appetite - Increased Confusion Consciousness - Decreased Diabetes - Resources Dizziness Drowsiness Fatigue Headache Movement - Uncoordinated Nausea and Vomiting Rapid Deep Breathing (Hyperventilation) Seizures Thirst - Excessive Urination - Excessive Volume Vision Problems Weakness Weight Loss - Unintentional
Review Date : 6/12/2003
Reviewed By : A.D.A.M. editorial. Previous review by Todd T. Brown, M.D., Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (5/13/2002)
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